Business backs Planning White Paper aim to deliver major infrastructure projects

CBI Director-General Richard Lambert has welcomed the government's planning white paper and its ambition to deliver the major infrastructure improvements the UK urgently needs.

The business organisation is pleased the planning proposals will establish national strategies for sectors like transport and energy, backed by an independent commission which will make decisions on major infrastructure projects.

Mr Lambert said: "The business community will welcome the signal this legislation sends out. It introduces necessary reforms to help deliver the major projects, particularly in transport and energy, which the UK is crying out for if it is to remain competitive.

"The current system is not working and many vital developments have become bogged down in a quagmire of red tape and bureaucracy. The new proposals should streamline the system without losing its democratic responsibilities.

"In particular the CBI welcomes the establishment of statements of strategic objectives for the most important projects, backed by an Independent Planning Commission. This should ensure that decisions are made which are both timely and legitimate."

The CBI also welcomes the government's acceptance of Kate Barker's findings that local authorities need to give more weight to economic development through the planning system, rather than simply concentrating on development controls.

Removing many small applications from the planning process will also free up more resources to handle the larger and more complicated projects which provide greater economic and social benefits to communities, the CBI added.

It has been estimated that delays associated with the current planning system cost the UK economy up to £2.7bn a year.