The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has committed £100m to speed up decision-making for major projects while maintaining high environmental standards.
Deployed over three years, the cash will fund staffing and new digital systems to enable regulators to help developers complete environmental assessments more quickly. Defra said this would also make applications more accurate and cut down delays.
Defra will also publish new guidance, in the form of strategic policy statements, which will give Natural England and the Environment Agency mandates to “prioritise outcomes over process”.
A new infrastructure unit will be set up to help ensure projects progress, with more complex issues passed on to the Defra infrastructure board for further scrutiny. A development industry council will also be established so developers and government can discuss planning challenges.
This comes alongside the appointment of a single lead environmental regulator for East West Rail to support its transformation plans around cities including Oxford, Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Bedford.
East West Rail is looking to unlock £6.7bn in economic growth, support 100,000 new homes and provide more frequent trains for passengers between Oxford and Cambridge.
Environment secretary Emma Reynolds said: “Our regulators do vital work protecting the environment we all depend on. These strategic policy statements give them a clear mandate to deliver on our twin missions: economic growth and nature recovery.
“Having one lead environmental regulator in charge speeds up approvals and helps projects like East West Rail to progress at pace, without compromising our ironclad commitment to the environment. This is a win-win situation for jobs, prosperity and nature.
“Today marks a decisive shift in our drive to make regulation work for the people of Britain, as we build more homes, restore nature and strengthen our communities in a decade of national renewal.”
Philip Duffy, chief executive of the Environment Agency, added: “These measures will accelerate the Environment Agency’s ongoing shift from process-driven to outcomes-focused regulation, helping to unblock development while protecting the environment we all rely on.
“We will play a key role as lead environment regulator for East West Rail, bringing developers and regulators together to prevent environmental damage and streamline approvals.”
Marian Spain, chief executive of Natural England, added: “The clear direction set out by government today directly aligns with our new corporate strategy, which sets how we are going further and faster to recover nature to support growth, public health and food security.
“Natural England’s work as lead environmental regulator for the Lower Thames Crossing is already paying dividends, enabling faster decision-making for one of the greenest roads ever. We look forward to seeing similar results for the Environment Agency on the East West Rail project.”
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