Judicial reviews on clean energy projects will be curbed to speed up development, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announce as part of a planning shake-up designed to fast-track critical infrastructure. Under the proposals, Parliament would gain the power to designate the most important clean energy projects as being of “critical national importance”, a move the Treasury says would “reduce the exposure from judicial review on all but human rights grounds”.
The reforms are intended to accelerate the delivery of power plants, windfarms and grid connections that the government says will lower household bills, strengthen energy security and boost economic growth. For other nationally significant infrastructure, such as transport and water projects, the government will introduce a fixed legal challenge window, after which planning consent could be updated to address any legitimate issues.
Why the government is acting
The Treasury has argued that “vital infrastructure delivery has been delayed by judicial reviews of projects the country needs”. In a statement, a spokesperson said: “The chancellor won’t stand for it any longer and is bringing forward bold changes to support delivery. She is clear that parliament must take back control – to get Britain building the power plants, windfarms and grid connections that will bring bills down, strengthen our energy security, and deliver growth in every part of our country.”
The announcement comes as the government faces mounting pressure to meet its target of building a virtually zero-carbon power system by 2030. The Clean Power 2030 mission aims for at least 95% of Great Britain’s electricity to come from clean sources, requiring an estimated £40 billion of investment annually between 2025 and 2030. Renewable energy developers have long complained about the difficulty of gaining planning permission for projects, from offshore windfarms to onshore solar and battery storage, as well as lengthy waiting times to connect to the electricity grid. Analysis by the consultancy Cornwall Insight found that a record number of renewable energy projects were approved in Great Britain last year – with the energy capacity of new battery, wind and solar projects climbing 96% to 45GW compared with 2024 – but that the pace of projects actually starting up lagged behind because of long construction timelines and grid connection delays.
How curbing judicial reviews accelerates clean energy projects
Judicial reviews are legal challenges that allow local councils, campaigners and environmental groups to contest planning permissions granted by public bodies. In the energy sector, they have been a particular obstacle. Energy UK, the industry body, has noted that over half of all challenges against Development Consent Orders (DCOs) relate to energy projects. Specific examples of projects significantly delayed include the Norfolk Offshore Wind Farm, which was pushed back by two years, the Sizewell C Power Station, which faced delays over environmental and water supply concerns, and the East Anglia ONE Offshore Wind Farm, also delayed by judicial review, affecting the timely delivery of lower-cost electricity.
The Treasury’s own figures underline the disproportionate cost of these challenges. Of 167 DCO decisions made since 2008, only six were quashed following a legal challenge. Yet many unsuccessful challenges have still imposed significant costs and delays on developers. By limiting judicial review to human rights grounds for projects designated as critical national importance, the government hopes to remove a major source of uncertainty and hold-ups. The fixed legal challenge window for other infrastructure similarly aims to impose a clear deadline after which consent can proceed without the threat of further litigation. Energy UK has called for greater integration of judicial review findings with wider planning reforms to reduce project completion times, a sentiment echoed by developers.
Industry reaction
Martin Pibworth, chief executive of SSE, one of the UK’s biggest renewable energy developers, said: “Speeding up clean power and grid projects matters for one simple reason. It brings bills down. The faster we electrify heat and transport with homegrown electricity, the less exposed we are to volatile global fuel markets. Every stalled windfarm or grid upgrade means families remain more exposed to gas prices we don’t control.” SSE has already reduced its near-term investment plans because of planning and policy delays.
The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) described the reforms as “the right thing to do if we are serious about growth, energy security and getting Britain building again”. ACE’s director, Ben Brittain, said: “Sensible limits on judicial review for nationally significant clean energy, transport and water projects, alongside wider planning reform, can help accelerate delivery while maintaining confidence in the process.” ACE had previously warned that reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework might lack impact without statutory backing for National Development Management Policies.
Other proposals and wider context
The planning shake-up is part of a broader package intended to soften the economic blow from the Iran crisis, which has fuelled energy prices and inflation. Reeves is also expected to announce measures to help households with the cost of living on Thursday, including the cancellation of a planned rise in fuel duty. The government has already extended a 5p fuel duty cut twice, with the latest freeze costing an estimated £2.4 billion a year. Reports have also emerged that the government asked UK supermarkets to consider freezing the prices of some essential foodstuffs to protect the public from inflation, although a Treasury minister has denied that such a step is under consideration.
The proposals come amid political uncertainty surrounding the future of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. They follow the passage of a landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill in December 2025, designed to speed up green energy and infrastructure, and the publication of the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan in April 2025. In April 2026 Reeves also announced an expansion of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme to provide greater support for energy-intensive businesses.
