Fine-tune planning to aid investors says CBI

The employers’ organisation said improvements to the major infrastructure planning system could help unlock £200 billion of investment by 2015.

The CBI wants the Government to reduce uncertainty at the pre-application stage, simplify the non-planning consent landscape, and introduce more flexibility and a sense of urgency into the system. It claims there are 52 major proposed projects in the pipeline, including wind farms, nuclear power stations and key transport upgrades, which have not even reached application stage.

Dr Neil Bentley, deputy director-general, said: “Too many applications are still at the initial stages, at a time when we need major investment in our infrastructure.

“We’re suggesting ways the Government can fine-tune the system to spur on much-needed new infrastructure, such as energy plants, railway lines, air- ports, roads, ports and waste facilities.

“Investing in major infrastructure projects will bring big rewards for our economy, with new jobs and growth.

“But investors both at home and abroad must have the confidence that the planning system will deliver timely decisions, so the Government needs to act now.

“Waiting for a much fuller review in 2014 would be a lost opportunity.”

The CBI’s proposals include allowing developers to be involved in training case workers “to improve the quality of advice given”.