Ministers have been accused of neglecting their pledge to “get Britain building”, after new analysis showed four in ten major infrastructure project decisions have been delayed by the government.
Concerns were raised at the length of time taken to sign off several nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIP), which are meant to go through a “fast-track” planning system for approval by ministers to avoid delay at a council level.
Figures show that four in ten NSIP decisions have been delayed since Labour came to power, according to analysis by the Britain Remade campaign group. Under the Conservatives, the figure was 10 out of 26 — or 38 per cent — excluding projects delayed by the general election.
Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, has approved four large-scale solar farms
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Among the schemes in stasis is the Lower Thames