The UK Government has announced proposed changes to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill that aim to streamline the process for major infrastructure projects. By removing the current statutory requirement for pre-application consultation, ministers hope to accelerate the Development Consent Order (DCO) process and reduce unnecessary delays. While this move is welcomed by industry experts, many caution that significant hurdles remain.

Robert Bruce, planning and infrastructure partner at Freeths LLP, praised the proposal as a positive shift in focus. “This is a significant step to speeding up the DCO process,” he said. “It places greater emphasis on the quality and effectiveness of consultation, rather than encouraging a risk-averse, box-ticking approach driven by legal requirements.”

Under the new approach, although the statutory requirement may be lifted, the Government has made it clear that meaningful consultation is still expected. A Ministerial Statement confirmed that statutory guidance will be published, outlining strong expectations for applicants to engage in robust pre-application consultation. The Planning Inspectorate will also continue to assess whether DCO applications are suitable for examination, ensuring standards are upheld.

However, Bruce warned that even with these changes, the journey through the DCO process remains lengthy and complex. “Whilst the change should help significantly with speeding up the process, it is clear applying for a DCO will still be a lengthy and complex process,” he noted. “Whilst rightly ambitious, I very much doubt that the Government is likely to meet its stated pledge of 150 planning decisions on major infrastructure projects this Parliament, given there’s only been 145 decisions on DCO applications since 2008.”

The proposed reforms are a welcome development for many in the construction and infrastructure sectors, but they also highlight the ongoing challenge of balancing efficiency with thorough, meaningful engagement. Whether these changes will lead to faster delivery of critical infrastructure remains to be seen — but they are a step in the right direction.