UK constructors remain concerned on major infrastructure projects

The body which represents private sector companies that account for three quarters of the UK's construction output has warned that the abandonment of proposed planning reforms relating to major infrastructure projects will continue to cause concern to UK constructors.

The Construction Confederation (CC) believes reforms would have meant that nationally important projects would have been subject to approval in principle by Parliament.

But Martin Hughes, CC public affairs director said: "Clearly the government has decided to abandon a reform which set out with the objective of quicker and less bureaucratic decision-making for the country's most vital infrastructure projects."

In its initial response to the consultation, the CC said that contracting companies need greater confidence in the timescales involved in approving major infrastructure projects as this will aid future decisions on recruitment, investment, the procurement of finance and capacity.

Delay, the CC continued, inevitably places additional costs on companies who have taken steps to prepare for the construction and management of what are large-scale projects and also means that socially desirable outcomes such as employment creation are put on hold.

Hughes added: "When we responded to the initial consultation on the proposed reforms, we said that we agreed with the Government's view that the planning decision-making process was slow and cumbersome and that much needed infrastructure improvements can be unnecessarily delayed."

"But Prescott has now said that he will be proposing ways to speed up the planning process by setting out clear national policy statements and changing public inquiry processes to make them more efficient.

"We remain to be convinced that we are not now being left with a status quo which has been shown to have failed."