Major water projects could be fast tracked through planning under Government plans to reform the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) regime.

On 25^th January, Michael Gove, secretary of state for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, told Parliament that his department is working with Defra, BEIS, Treasury and the Department for Transport on modernising the approach to major projects, to streamline and speed up the consenting process.

Gove said: “These important reforms will boost investor confidence in major infrastructure and help Government to improve energy security, achieve net zero and deliver the transport connectivity, water and waste management facilities this country needs.”