PM vows to curb ‘Nimby’ court battles over major projects
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Opponents of major infrastructure projects will have fewer chances to “frustrate growth” through repeated legal challenges, the Prime Minister has said. Sir Keir Starmer said he would end a “challenge culture” that saw major projects such as nuclear power plants, wind farms and roads delayed by unarguable bids for judicial review.
Number 10 said the changes would prevent “cynical” or “hopeless” cases causing delays and increasing the cost of infrastructure projects. Opponents currently have three opportunities to secure permission for a judicial review against a major infrastructure project – firstly by writing to the High Court, then in an oral hearing and finally by asking the Court of Appeal.
But under plans announced by the Prime Minister on Thursday, the written stage will be scrapped and any cases deemed “totally without merit” will be unable to ask the Court of Appeal to reconsider. The Prime Minister said: “For too long, blockers have had the upper hand in legal challenges – using our court processes to frustrate growth.
“We’re putting an end to this challenge culture by taking on the Nimbys and a broken system that has slowed down our progress as a nation. “This is the Government’s Plan for Change in action – taking the brakes off Britain by reforming the planning system so it is pro-growth and pro-infrastructure.”.
