Streeting sets out plans to tear up planning rules and net zero policies if he becomes PM

Wes Streeting will unveil plans to scrap planning laws and overturn Ed Miliband’s ban on new fossil fuel production in a bold speech setting out his agenda if he becomes prime minister.

Mr Streeting will make clear he will remove the power of local communities to object to controversial energy and big tech projects and allow new oil and gas drilling at the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields in the North Sea.

In a major speech on Tuesday, the former health secretary will take on both the green lobby and pessimism, which will also be seen as a challenge to the plans his main rival, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, wants to implement.

Mr Burnham wants to give even more power to regions and communities with a devolution agenda, but Mr Streeting will argue central government should be the sole decision-maker for projects of national importance.

Mr Streeting’s team has already started drafting bills aimed at fast-tracking infrastructure plans; It is a move Mr Streeting will put at the heart of his economic bid to oust Sir Keir.

Ahead of the speech, Mr Streeting said: “We used to be a country capable of great things. With the promise that the next generation could do better than the last. We still can. And I want to give people reason to believe again.”

“If Parliament can act within days to save British Steel, it can act urgently to save Britain’s future prosperity.

“As successive governments sleep, Britain calls for action. I will pass emergency legislation to build data centres, nuclear power generation, transport infrastructure connecting people to jobs and more.

“We can still build the infrastructure necessary to grow our economy, we must do that, and if I become prime minister we will do that.”

The move will build on reforms that Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been trying to implement to boost economic growth by making it easier to build infrastructure.

Frustration is growing over projects such as new nuclear power plants and HS2 being tied up in red tape over local objections and environmental demands.

Under Mr Streeting’s plans, infrastructure projects would be given “decision in principle” approval through bills in Parliament, after which ministers would resolve environmental concerns and hold consultations after the fact.

This would bypass and replace the often lengthy planning processes that currently take place before developers can acquire land on major projects.

Mr Streeting’s campaign highlighted the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, which was approved by the government in 2016 and has not yet been built.

Entire categories of nationally important projects, such as reservoirs, power stations and transport schemes, may be exempt from individual planning applications under the proposals.

In his speech, Mr Streeting will also set out plans to increase high-skilled immigration to the UK, with the aim of recruiting 20,000 scientists, engineers and artificial intelligence experts from around the world.

Elsewhere, he will argue that two stalled drilling projects in the North Sea – Rosebank and Jackdaw – should go ahead and that tax revenues from oil and gas fields should be diverted to finance cheaper energy measures such as heat pumps and insulation.

Mr Streeting’s speech came two days before the Makerfield by-election in which Mr Burnham is vying to return to parliament.