Major infrastructure projects in Britain have been approved at a record level, the Government has said, after Gatwick airport’s expansion was given the green light.
A total of four significant planning decisions have been signed off this year, after 21 schemes were given the go ahead in Labour’s first year in government.
As well as Gatwick and Luton airport expansions, they include the Lower Thames Crossing, Mona offshore wind farm and Viking CCS pipeline.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has committed to 150 major infrastructure projects being signed off during this Parliament as part of his plan for change.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said it is "on track to meet this target" because of "pro-growth" planning reforms.
The previous Conservative government approved 57 schemes between December 2019 and May 2024, according to the MHCLG.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: "We are backing our builders, brickies and businesses to get Britain building.
"We've already said yes to major projects that will create more well-paid jobs providing clean power and new roads.
"We will go further to streamline planning rules to speed up new homes, data centres and businesses that will put an affordable home and well-paid job within reach of people in every part of our country."
However, house building has remained slow despite Labour’s manifesto pledge to build 1.5 million homes across its first parliament.
The capital is expected to build 440,000 of these properties.
Sir Sadiq Khan last month announced more than 8,000 new homes have been started in London, five years ahead of his 2030 target.
The Mayor also confirmed over 11,600 were completed last year, with 6,700 being described as “affordable homes for social rent and equivalent”.
But sales of new build private homes in the city have collapsed to their lowest level in history, according to the latest official figures.
Just 19 houses and flats newly built by private developers were recorded as changing hands in May across the whole of the capital, according to new data from the Land Registry.
Historically sales of new built homes - often going to first time buyers - have averaged around 1,000 a month in the city, according to Land Registry records going back to 1995. They peaked at 1,844 in June 2017.
Sir James Cleverly, Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, said: “Labour are attempting to distract from their horrific house-building record so far by claiming credit for projects whose approval process began under the last Conservative Government.
“Whilst it remains to be seen whether their Planning Bill, which has not even come into force, will work in practice, Labour’s record speaks for itself, with the lowest level of private housebuilding starts since 2009 in Labour-run London.
"And in their wish to curry favour with Brussels, Labour have failed to repeal the legacy EU laws that are driving up costs of both small and large development.”
What major infrastructure has been approved by Labour ministers?
The Government has approved 24 projects since coming to power
1. Gate Burton energy park, Lincolnshire
2. Mallard Pass solar project, Lincolnshire and Rutland
3. Sunnica energy farm, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire
4. Cottam solar project, border between Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire
5. Bramford to Twinstead power line, Suffolk and Essex
6. Immingham eastern roll-on, roll-off terminal, Lincolnshire
7. Rivenhall integrated waste management facility and energy centre, Essex
8. Heckington Fen solar park, Lincolnshire
9. West Burton solar project, on the border between Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire
10. Immingham green energy terminal, Lincolnshire
11. North Lincolnshire green energy park
12. Lower Thames Crossing, linking Essex and Kent
13. Luton airport expansion
14. Rampion 2 offshore wind farm, off the coast of Sussex
15. Cambridge waste water treatment plant
16. Viking CCS pipeline, Lincolnshire
17. East Yorkshire solar farm
18. M5 Junction 10 improvement scheme, Gloucestershire
19. Oaklands Farm solar park, south Derbyshire
20. Mona offshore windfarm, the east Irish Sea
The Hinckley national rail freight interchange in Leicestershire was the one development consent order application rejected in the Government's first year.
Schemes approved in the Government's second year so far:
1. Byers Gill solar farm, Co Durham
2. Morgan offshore wind project, in the Irish Sea
3. M60/M62/M66 Simister Island, Greater Manchester
4. Gatwick airport expansion
