Starmer asks Conservative peer to write planning bill to block judicial reviews

"Keir Starmer has tasked a Conservative peer with writing a new planning bill to remove the ability for environmental groups to delay projects such as Heathrow's third runway with judicial reviews. The Guardian understands that leaving the Aarhus convention is being discussed as an option. This is an international treaty signed up to by the EU and other countries in Europe, which protects the right for campaigners to bring legal claims against large infrastructure projects such as waste plants, nuclear power stations and motorways."

"Doing this would destabilise Britain's constitution and silence legitimate objections, leading planning lawyers have warned. The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has put Heathrow expansion at the heart of her push for economic growth, claiming it would make the UK the world's best-connected place to do business. The Treasury sees the new bill including blocking what one source close to Reeves called stupid judicial review cases for nationally significant infrastructure projects as essential to ensuring work can start on a new runway before the next general election."

Keir Starmer has asked a Conservative peer to draft a planning bill aimed at removing environmental groups' ability to delay projects like Heathrow's third runway through judicial reviews. Leaving the Aarhus Convention is being considered; the convention protects campaigners' rights to bring legal claims against major infrastructure projects. Leading planning lawyers warned that removing these protections could destabilise Britain's constitution and silence legitimate objections. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has prioritised Heathrow expansion for economic growth and supports measures to block what a source called 'stupid judicial review cases' to ensure work can start before the next general election. Ministers believe earlier deregulation still does not go far enough. Charles Banner KC has been asked to explore removing the cap on costs for groups bringing judicial reviews.

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