UK scraps mandatory consultations for large-scale solar planning

<p>Planning reforms expected to cut pre-application timelines for large-scale solar by up to 12 months have been approved in the United Kingdom, cutting red tape for projects in England and Wales.</p>

<p>From July 24, the UK government will scrap mandatory pre-application consultation requirements for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), a move which will streamline the planning process for solar projects with capacity greater than 100 MW in England and 350 MW in Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate planning regimes. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Energy generating projects above these thresholds must apply for planning through the centralized NSIP process, rather than via local government planning offices. This is typically more expensive and time-consuming than dealing with local planners, and the final decision on project approval is made by the relevant UK government cabinet minister.</p>

<p>Changes to UK planning law remove a slew of consultation obligations, including requirements to consult statutory consultees, landowners, local authorities and the community before submitting a development consent application to the government.</p>

<p>The regulation update is expected to result in faster deployment of solar, wind and nuclear plants, as well as other major infrastructure projects. The UK government estimates that cutting 12 months from the planning process could potentially save industry GBP 1 billion ($1.3 billion) over the course of the current parliamentary term, which runs until summer 2029 at the latest.</p>

<p>In place of the pre-application consultation, developers will receive earlier technical support and advice from the Planning Inspectorate, which is the government agency that deals with NSIP applications and planning appeals.</p>

<p>Removing the pre-application requirements for NSIP projects is one of a raft of measures included in the UK Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, which the UK government hopes will make project development easier across industries.</p>

<p>The legislation also includes provisions that make it more difficult to appeal against NSIP planning approvals, including community and local authority objections to large-scale solar projects. This was in response to a sharp increase in the number of legal challenges to UK NSIP project approvals in recent years, with a National Infrastructure Commission report finding 58% of projects with development consent orders now facing judicial review – against a long-term average of 10%.</p>

<p>Large scale projects now enjoy more legal protection once they secure planning consent, as judges have been given more power to decide appeals are without merit on the basis of an oral hearing, rather than a lengthy legal battle.</p>

<p>This change has already protected one solar project, as an appeal against the 100 MW Stonestreet Green Solar was quickly dismissed as a meritless claim.</p>

<p>Updating planning rules for NSIP projects follows the government’s decision to raise the threshold at which generating projects in England are assessed via Planning Inspectorate examination. Previously, English solar projects with 50 MW capacity were subject to the NSIP process, leading to what was described as <a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/12/12/uk-planning-reform-targets-solar-development-dead-zone/">a “planning dead zone” </a>for projects between 50 MW and 100 MW.</p>

<p>The change comes as the government prepares to rule on multiple large-scale solar projects in the coming months, including the 740 MW One Earth Solar Farm which must be approved or rejected by July 8 at the latest. July 2026 has already been a busy month for utility-scale planning consent in the United Kingdom, with the 150 MW Dean Moor Solar Farm and 320 MW Peartree Hill both securing development consent orders.</p>

<p>Commenting on the planning changes, UK government energy minister Michael Shanks said Britain “cannot afford to wait years” for clean energy infrastructure approvals.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/07/08/uk-scraps-mandatory-consultations-for-large-scale-solar-planning/">UK scraps mandatory consultations for large-scale solar planning</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com">pv magazine Global</a>.</p>