The government has launched a consultation on proposals to reduce delays on major housing and infrastructure projects by limiting legal challenges.
The government says that the plans have the potential to unlock thousands of new homes and help deliver 150 major infrastructure decisions.
The consultation will look at extending judicial review reforms beyond Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) to major housing, transport and energy developments.
The government says that, while judicial review remains a vital safeguard, the consultation will explore targeted reforms, including limiting repeated unsuccessful attempts to bring claims and introducing clearer court timetables, to prevent weak and meritless challenges from holding up nationally important projects.
The proposals build on reforms already introduced through the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 and changes to court rules, which the government says have streamlined judicial review for NSIPs, helping to reduce delays, deter weak and meritless claims and ensure cases are resolved more quickly.
Minister for courts and legal services, Sarah Sackman KC MP, said: “Britain needs more homes, better transport links and new infrastructure. Legal challenges which lack merit should not be allowed to hold back the developments that create jobs, drive growth and strengthen communities.”
“Judicial review will remain a vital safeguard, but it cannot be a vehicle for delay. We want to protect access to justice while getting nationally important projects built faster.”
The six-week consultation comes as the government seeks to accelerate planning decisions and deliver 150 major infrastructure decisions this Parliament, helping remove barriers that slow development and unlock economic growth.
The consultation will seek views on whether reforms should focus on major infrastructure projects and other strategically important developments. It will also consider how any changes can be targeted to avoid undue pressure on court resources while maintaining access to justice.
In May, reforms were announced with the aim of streamlining legal challenges by introducing a fixed legal challenge window for NSIPs, cutting delays from meritless claims and speeding up delivery of transport, water and energy schemes.
The government has also confirmed changes coming into force next week to remove mandatory pre-application consultation requirements for NSIPs, which could cut up to 12 months from the planning process and potentially save industry £1billion this Parliament.
