| New body to boost investment in nuclear and wind power | | Print | |
| Thursday, 08 October 2009 | |
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Plans to streamline the planning process for major energy projects like new nuclear power stations and wind-farms could bring major investment into the UK, according to business leaders – and help secure the UK’s climate change commitments. The Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC), which came into being this week will oversee planning applications for major projects including power stations, new roads and wind-farms. These developments have traditionally led to long-drawn out inquiries but the IPC will cut the time taken to reach decisions, while ensuring local views, rather than national ones, are heeded and given greater prominence at the inquiry stage. Supporters of the move see it as an opportunity to safeguard the environment by delivering a range of new green infrastructure sources to meet the UK’s low-carbon ambitions. The system will be fairer and faster – and could save the UK taxpayer up to £300m per year. Sir Michael Pitt, newly-elected chairman of the IPC said: “Developers tell us they hope to submit around 50 applications in our first year, so there is huge demand for our services from a range of sectors.” The CBI’s John Cridland backed the move. He said: “The UK urgently needs nuclear power stations and wind farms to bolster our energy security and cut carbon emissions.The launch of the IPC should encourage investment in the country’s vital infrastructure.” Keith Parker, chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association said: “We warmly welcome this development and see it as evidence of progress toward a standardised planning regime which will provide a more predictable framework for planning matters and give certainty to investors in the new generating plant the UK will depend on in the future for low-carbon power.” Comments (0)
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