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Written question asked by Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative) on Thursday, 4 September 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 September 2025. It was answered by Sarah Sackman (Labour) on Friday, 12 September 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.


Planning

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, when she plans to implement the reduction in opportunities to challenge consent decisions.

Answer

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduces changes to the way judicial reviews are handled for National Policy Statements and development consent orders relating to nationally significant infrastructure projects. It removes the paper permission stage, meaning applications will go directly to an oral permission hearing in the High Court. In addition, where the High Court decides at that hearing that a case is “totally without merit,” the claimant will not have a right of appeal.

The Government intends to commence these provisions as soon as practicable after Royal Assent, once the necessary procedural changes are in place.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
75318
Session
2024-26
Related items
The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy
Monday, 23 June 2025
Command papers
House of Commons
House of Lords
Subjects
Planning
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk