Government calls in regulators and tells Ofwat to speed up 30 major water projects
The Government called in key regulators today to firm up plans to speed up water projects, ease environmental red tape slowing house building and reform the industry LOLER lifting regulations.
Details of the measure will now be worked up but regulators were handed a set of clear instructions to lift barriers to economic growth.
The radical shake-up will boost infrastructure building by simplifying guidance to protect bat habitats that blocks vital new homes and infrastructure.
A streamlined process for environmental regulations will also be put in place for major projects. This could include Lower Thames Crossing, subject to planning approval, as well as future schemes like Heathrow expansion.
The new system will require just one point of contact and will end the merry-go-round of developers seeking planning approvals from multiple authorities who often disagree with each other.
Other key areas coming for construction coming under the regulatory reform spotlight include the Lifting Operations & Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998.
Consultation will now start with the industry over the lifting regs. This aims to identify potential changes to legislation that can now reflect technological advances and reliability of work equipment.
Water regulator Ofwat has also been told to work with the sector and other regulators to optimise the pipeline of £50bn of investment across 30 major projects and accelerate projects where possible.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “For too long, the previous Government hid behind regulators – deferring decisions and allowing regulations to bloat and block meaningful growth in this country.
“And it has been working people who pay the price of this stagnation.
“This is the latest step in our efforts to kickstart economic growth, which is the only way we can fundamentally drive-up living standards and get more money in people’s pockets. ”
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