• Bookstore

The changes provide a key new role for peers in scrutinising all national policy statements including those for aviation, nuclear power and renewable energy, and there is now a legal duty on the face of the Bill for National Policy Statements to show how they will mitigate and adapt to climate change.

According to the Government, the Planning Bill is crucial to tackling the two biggest issues the country faces today - ensuring our economy is resilient in the tough competitive global climate and delivering new green infrastructure vital for the leap to an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050.

Latest improvements to the Bill will ensure that:

• There will be an explicit climate change duty on the face of the Bill. National Policy Statements and regional plans will now have to show how they mitigate and adapt to climate change - and Government must explain how it does this to parliament.
• A Lords Committee will now have a key role reviewing and scrutinising National Policy Statements, increasing Parliamentary scrutiny of draft statements by both Housest.
• Confirmation of inquiry procedures, will ensure that the Infrastructure Planning Commission can where appropriate invite cross-examination of witnesses to help with evidence gathering whilst still ensuring that local voices are not drowned out by powerful lawyers.

Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears said:
"With climate change now firmly implanted in this bill it really will deliver, in a more democratic system, the low carbon economy we need to move to.

"We have improved the Bill at each stage and listened to constructive ideas from MPs and Peers.

"The Planning Bill will give local people three chances to have their say instead of just the one now, decisions will take less than a year, and save our economy up to £300m each year by preventing unnecessary delays. That is why I'm urging all sides of the House to back the Bill."

According to Government figures, enough renewable energy to power one and a half million homes, equivalent to three cities the size of Sheffield, or every home in Birmingham, is currently clogged up in the planning system.

One third of Britain's electricity generating capacity needs replacing, but currently only 5% (or 5 Giga Watts) of our electricity comes from renewable sources.

Planning Bill Minister, John Healey added:
"In the tough climate we face the economic case for this Bill is stronger than ever before. We simply can't create a modern and greener economy using a post war planning system.

"The planning bill is the key to unlocking the modern green economy and subsequent new jobs and that is why business backs it.

"This green energy will help hard working families already worried about high fuel bills who have been hit by dramatic fluctuations in oil or imported gas prices. We need British based green energy now. It is time to let this Bill deliver for the country."