Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Gov.UK Housing. Read the original article for full details.

Government Consults on Judicial Review Reforms to Speed Up Housing Delivery

The UK Government has launched a consultation on extending judicial review reforms to major housing, transport, and energy projects. The aim is to reduce delays caused by legal challenges and accelerate the delivery of new homes and infrastructure.

The consultation, announced on 16 July 2026, will explore targeted reforms to judicial review processes. These include limiting repeated unsuccessful legal claims and introducing clearer court timetables. The Government states that these measures are intended to prevent weak or meritless challenges from delaying nationally important developments, while maintaining access to justice and the rule of law.

The proposed reforms build on changes already introduced through the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 and updates to court rules. These earlier reforms streamlined judicial review for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), reducing delays and deterring weak claims.

The six-week consultation seeks views on whether reforms should focus on major infrastructure projects and other strategically important developments. It will also consider how changes can be targeted to avoid undue pressure on court resources.

According to the Government, 42 decisions on major infrastructure projects have been made so far this Parliament, which is double the number at the same stage in the previous Parliament. The Government aims to deliver 150 major infrastructure decisions this Parliament.

Recent figures cited in the announcement indicate that an estimated 392,400 homes have been delivered since the start of this Parliament to 14 June 2026. The Government has also confirmed that changes coming into force next week will remove mandatory pre-application consultation requirements for NSIPs, potentially cutting up to 12 months from the planning process and saving industry up to £1 billion this Parliament.

These reforms are part of a wider effort to make the planning system faster and more predictable, supporting the delivery of homes and infrastructure across the UK.