UK guts planning red tape so datacenters can bypass the neighbors faster
Overhaul of process could give NIMBYs one year less to complain
Reform of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 aims to cut a year off the approval process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) in England and Wales – a category that now includes datacenters.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) confirmed that changes under the Act, taking effect later this month, will scrap the statutory requirement for pre-application consultation on NSIPs. These are major developments – power stations, railways, or water reservoirs – that, due to their national importance, bypass local council planning processes and instead get the go-ahead directly from Westminster.
MHCLG says the reform could shave up to 12 months off the planning timeline and save up to £1 billion ($1.33 billion) for the industries involved during the life of this Parliament. Developers will get technical support and "meaningful advice" from the Planning Inspectorate...
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