Achieving the UK’s 2050 net zero goal will require new low carbon energy,
transport and built infrastructure while also reducing energy demand. The
government has stated delivery of these at the required pace requires
addressing planning system delays.
• Infrastructure plans and policies are implemented at different scales, from
nationally significant projects to local planning decisions. Planning
organisations state concerns about the lack of holistic spatial planning to
coordinate these scales of planning as well as with national net zero targets.
• Nationally significant projects, such as large-scale renewables, face delays
due to issues arising prior to submitting planning applications or at the final
stage of being granted permission. In some cases, community benefits for
hosting projects are not properly considered and delivered.
• The new National Energy System Operator has committed to the delivery of
Regional Energy Strategic Plans. These will map out the distribution
networks and technologies required to reach net zero across the UK
mainland and will be complemented by Strategic Spatial Energy Planning
assessing sites for energy storage and generation infrastructures.
• The local planning process considers many aspects of an infrastructure
project, but some stakeholders believe not all aspects are considered equally
within planning applications. They suggest planning reforms are needed to
reduce delays and to support a net zero transition