Green regulators hitting time targets on infrastructure project applications

(by Karma Loveday)

Defra has reported that environmental regulators are now meeting or exceeding key planning timeliness targets – giving developers greater certainty and helping infrastructure projects move faster.

Provisional results showed that in 2025/26, the Environment Agency (EA) responded to 98% of planning consultations on time (up from 88%), while Natural England handled 95% of major infrastructure applications within agreed timescales.

The EA’s Priority Tracked Service is also supporting 63 major projects, providing a single point of contact and end-to-end permitting support to help complex schemes progress more quickly. The Government is continuing to roll out the Lead Environmental Regulator model – “replacing a merry-go-round of overlapping bodies with a single coordinating regulator for major projects to cut duplication and speed up approvals”.

The news was issued as mayors from across the country met with the prime minister to discuss maximising the opportunities of devolution to build more homes, infrastructure and transport links.

Defra said: “Where projects have stalled or been watered down, the Government will back mayors to push them through – unlocking homes, infrastructure and jobs, particularly for younger generations.” And: “Where local leaders bring forward credible plans to drive growth, the government will back them and get projects built.”