The government is set to overhaul the UK’s grid connection process and fast-track critical clean energy projects as part of its Plan for Change.
Under new reforms, dozens of wind and solar projects will be pushed to the front of the queue, slashing wait times that currently stretch up to a decade.
A new “first ready, first connected” system will replace the outdated “first come, first served” approach, which has allowed speculative projects to clog up the queue while viable infrastructure is forced to wait.
The changes aim to cut red tape, bring forward £200 billion in investment and strengthen the UK’s energy security.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill, due to be introduced to Parliament this week, will streamline approvals for major energy projects, including offshore wind, solar, hydrogen, carbon capture and nuclear.
The reforms will triple the number of planning decisions for infrastructure projects in this Parliament, compared to the last, with at least 150 major projects set to be approved.
The government has already given the green light to 10 major projects this year, including six solar farms totalling nearly 3GW of clean energy.
However, ministers want to go further to prevent unnecessary delays that have long stifled the UK’s energy transition.
One major obstacle being tackled is the legal system, where challenges to infrastructure projects can drag on for years. The Bill will introduce tighter controls to dismiss weak legal cases sooner, preventing nuclear plants and wind farms from getting stuck in lengthy court battles.
Planning rules in Scotland will also be changed to reduce excessive delays on projects such as onshore wind farms and pylons while ensuring local communities still have a say.
Time and again blockers have been allowed to halt progress at every turn which has weakened our energy security and left our country exposed to soaring energy bills for working people, families and businesses. This cannot and will not continue under my watch.
“Through our landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill we’re taking bold action to fix the broken planning system, paving the way for us to get Britain building more vital infrastructure so our children and grandchildren can grow up in a more energy secure world.
Angela Rayner Deputy PM
Other measures in the Bill include:
- A £2,500 discount on electricity bills for households living within 500 metres of new pylons, spread over 10 years, to ensure local communities benefit from hosting critical infrastructure.
- A new “cap and floor” scheme for long-duration energy storage (LDES), unlocking billions in private investment to store renewable energy.
- Replacing street works licences with permits to accelerate the rollout of EV charge points, making installations quicker and cheaper.
- Extending the generator commissioning period for offshore wind farms from 18 to 27 months to cut delays in connecting projects to the grid.
The move signals a significant shift in energy planning, with the government determined to remove barriers, boost investment and accelerate the rollout of clean power.
With the UK targeting a fully decarbonised power system by 2030, the Labour message is clear: no more waiting around.
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