MPs to rule on building schemes
Parliament is to play a key role in deciding plans for nationally important projects like major airports, rail links, roads and power stations under new proposals.
The changes will speed up a project's construction without damaging the community's right to object, the Government is claiming.
Planning Minister Lord Falconer said the current system was adversarial, legalistic and "excludes people", as well as being hard to understand and expensive.
He added: "It serves neither the interests of business nor the wider community. There is a clear business case for moving decisions on nationally important projects to the nation's Parliament." However, the minister wanted to assure people that "communities will also benefit by the enhanced consultation rights I have announced today".
The proposed new arrangements will allow Parliament to consider major infrastructure schemes after public consultation.
The public inquiry system will remain in place to consider detailed proposals, while the Secretary of State will continue to make the final decisions.
The public will be involved in the pre-Parliamentary consultation and will have the right for their objections to be made known to Parliament.
The public will also continue to be able to express their views at public inquiries.
