Jeremy Hunt is pushing to speed up planning permission for nuclear power plants and offshore wind to boost growth and bring down energy bills.
A review ordered by the chancellor last week paved the way for easier approval of big infrastructure projects.
Local objections have repeatedly delayed significant schemes and Hunt is understood to be frustrated that even when these concerns have been considered, projects are still pushed back by cumbersome planning rules.
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The Treasury fears that the struggle to upgrade infrastructure is holding back growth and has voiced concern that “the system has slowed in recent years” with the time taken for approval of big projects increasing by 65 per cent over
