The government has just announced late-stage amendments to its flagship Planning and Infrastructure Bill, to hand itself sweeping new powers to break through planning gridlock and fast-track housing, energy and water schemes across the country.

The move comes as part of a pro-growth package tied to the flagship Planning and Infrastructure Bill – now racing through Parliament – which ministers say will “unshackle Britain” from red tape and delays.

If passed, the reforms would let the Housing Secretary step in to stop councils rejecting major schemes, cut the time projects spend tangled in the courts, and accelerate delivery of reservoirs, windfarms and large housing developments.

Officials claim the full package could boost the economy by £7.5bn over the next decade.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said the system had been “shackled by governments unwilling to overhaul the stubborn planning system that has erected barriers to building at every turn”.

He added: “Sluggish planning has real-world consequences. Every new house blocked deprives a family of a home. Every infrastructure project that gets delayed blocks someone from a much-needed job. This will now end.”

Under the plans, ministers would be able to issue “holding directions” to stop councils turning down projects while they consider using their call-in powers – reversing rules that currently only allow intervention when councils approve schemes.

The changes are designed to push through more housing, energy and infrastructure schemes after the government claimed nearly 900 major housing projects were blocked by councils last year.

Other measures include:

• speeding up approvals for large reservoirs by allowing private-sector developers to bring forward nationally significant water schemes;

• unlocking around 3GW of onshore wind capacity worth up to £2bn in investment;

• stopping planning permissions expiring while tied up in lengthy judicial reviews;

• streamlining Natural England’s role so the body only focuses on high-risk or high-impact cases.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “Our pro-growth planning bill shows we are serious about cutting red tape to get Britain building again – backing the builders not the blockers.”