Government sets out plan to streamline infrastructure planning system

The UK Government has published its Streamlining Infrastructure Planning: Implementation Plan, setting out how reforms introduced through the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 will be brought into force over the coming months.

The implementation plan – which applies to England, Scotland and Wales – outlines a programme of secondary legislation, guidance and procedural changes intended to improve the efficiency of the planning system for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), with a particular focus on the Development Consent Order (DCO) regime.

The reforms are designed to provide greater clarity and certainty for applicants, statutory bodies and communities, while accelerating decision-making and supporting delivery of major infrastructure.

A key element of the plan is the phased publication of new and updated guidance. This includes guidance on pre-application processes, the acceptance stage, and the content requirements for DCO applications, which will be published ahead of the relevant legislative changes coming into effect.

The Government has also committed to strengthening the strategic framework for infrastructure planning. National Policy Statements (NPSs) will now be subject to a requirement for review and update every five years, aimed at ensuring policy remains current and aligned with wider priorities such as economic growth and clean energy delivery.

The implementation plan builds on earlier consultation proposals to streamline the NSIP regime, including changes to consultation and engagement requirements, improved guidance for public bodies, and measures to focus examinations more effectively.

Overall, the reforms are intended to support the Government’s broader ambitions to accelerate infrastructure delivery, reduce delays and provide a more predictable planning environment for investors and developers.

What this means for the ecology and environmental management sector

For ecological professionals, these changes could have significant implications for how environmental considerations are addressed within the NSIP process. Greater emphasis on efficiency and streamlined procedures may place increased pressure on early-stage engagement, data quality and the timely provision of ecological advice.

CIEEM will continue to monitor the rollout of these reforms and engage with Government to ensure that ecological expertise remains central to infrastructure planning, and that environmental outcomes are not compromised in the drive to accelerate development.