Top planning barrister, (Lord) Charles Banner KC, will lead an
independent review to look into speeding up the delivery of major
infrastructure projects, confirmed by the Housing Minister and
Secretary of State today.
The review builds on wider government reforms to streamline the
process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects
(NSIPs), which are often held up by legal barriers and judicial
reviews.
Banner, assisted by fellow barrister , will explore whether NSIPs are
unduly held up by inappropriate legal challenges, and if so what
are the main reasons and how the problem can be effectively
resolved, whilst guaranteeing the constitutional right to access
of justice and meeting the UK’s international obligations.
Even unsuccessful challenges can set major projects back years in
delays. This includes new road improvements, offshore wind farms
and waste water management facilities.
Housing Minister, said:
“It is vitally important that we use every tool at our disposal
to slash unnecessary planning delays and accelerate building
where it is needed across the country.
“That is why I am delighted that (Lord) Banner will lead a review
on how we can speed up the delivery of national infrastructure in
the face of costly legal challenges. I look forward to the
outcome of this crucial piece of work.”
(Lord) Charles Banner KC said:
“I am looking forward to analysing the information available, as
well as the feedback from key stakeholders, to ascertain whether,
within the terms of reference, there is a case for improving the
process for legal challenges of NSIPs in a way that would reduce
any identified impacts of inappropriate legal challenges whilst
maintaining constitutional principles and relevant international
obligations.”
Banner is a leading expert in planning and environmental
regulation. He has already demonstrated excellent work for the
Government on a number of panels, such as chairing the UK’s
nature conservation advisory body the Joint Nature Conservation
Committee.
As part of the review, Banner will produce a written report with
recommendations based upon the review’s research and engagement
with key stakeholders.
This review was announced at the Autumn Statement in the policy
paper ‘Getting Great Britain building again: Speeding up
infrastructure delivery’. It is expected to take 3 months and the
Government will consider the recommendations once published.
Biography
(Lord) Charles Banner KC was called to the Bar of England &
Wales in 2004 and to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2010. He was
appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2019 (at the age of 38, the youngest
of the 2019 silks). He practices across both jurisdictions as
well as internationally.
is on the Attorney General’s
C-panel of counsel and specialises in planning and
infrastructure, compulsory purchase, and environmental law.
