Committee publication · Correspondence · 17 July 2026
Correspondence from Sarah Sackman KC MP, Minister for Courts and Legal Services, dated 16 July 2026 relating to a consultation on further judicial review reforms
From: Justice Committee
Summary
Minister for Courts and Legal Services Sarah Sackman KC MP informs the Justice Committee that the Government has published a six-week consultation on extending judicial review reforms beyond Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) to nuclear licensing and potentially wider planning regimes. The consultation seeks views on whether reforms introduced via the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025—including removal of appeal rights for totally without merit cases and streamlining via oral hearings—should apply to major projects and other strategically important developments under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and Transport and Works Act 1992.
Key findings
- Government has published consultation extending JR reforms originally recommended by Lord Banner KC's 2024 independent review of legal challenges to NSIPs
- Reforms already implemented include removing appeal rights for permission applications certified as totally without merit and removing paper permission stage to go straight to oral hearing
- In response to Nuclear Regulatory Review 2025, Government committed to extending reforms to nuclear site licensing and permitting decisions
- Consultation seeks evidence on whether similar reforms should apply to major projects under Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and Transport and Works Act 1992, and extent to which legal challenges cause delays
- Government states reforms aim to balance supporting infrastructure delivery while maintaining access to justice and effective court administration; six-week consultation period with careful consideration of responses before final decisions
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Sarah Sackman KC MP, Andy Slaughter MP, Lord Banner KC, Ministry of Justice, Justice Select Committee
Notable line
“There is a clear need to support the delivery of key infrastructure and development projects while maintaining access to justice and the effective administration …”
Key Quotes
“Recent changes introduced through the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 and amendments to the Civil Procedure Rules have sought to reduce delays to NSIPs caused by legal challenges.”
“There is a clear need to support the delivery of key infrastructure and development projects while maintaining access to justice and the effective administration of the courts.”
“The consultation will run for six weeks. The Government will carefully consider all responses received before deciding whether to take forward any further changes.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗