Ten rail projects and some local transport schemes were highlighted as Government priorities in the Government’s Growth Plan 2022, unveiled by Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng on 23 September.
An appendix to the Growth Plan document, published alongside the Chancellor’s statement, lists a series of ‘infrastructure projects which will be accelerated as fast as possible, aiming to get the vast majority starting construction by the end of 2023’. The document says the projects ‘may benefit from acceleration through planning reform, regulatory reform, improved processes or other options to speed up their development and construction, including through development consent processes’. Such planning reforms were stated as a Government priority within the main plan.
Rail projects listed include the Transpennine Route Upgrade, East West Rail, Midland Main Line Phase 3 (electrification from Wigston to Nottingham/Sheffield) and Northern Powerhouse Rail. Also listed are Manchester Improvements (schemes…
