Government abolishes Infrastructure Planning Commission, Commission for Rural Communities

The government confirmed today that the Infrastructure Planning Commission and the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) would be abolished.

The IPC will be replaced, as expected, with a Major Infrastructure Planning Unit based in the Planning Inspectorate. It will continue to fast track major projects like offshore windfarms and nuclear power stations.

Ministers will take decisions on applications within the same statutory fast-track timeframes as the current regime, the Department for Communities and Local Government said.

All National Policy Statements will now be subject to ratification by Parliament, with ministers arguing that this will give "these critically important national documents....the strongest possible democratic legitimacy".

Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark said: "The previous system lacked any democratic legitimacy by giving decision-making power away to a distant quango on issues crucial to every community in the country. Today the coalition is remedying those deficiencies by putting place a new fast track process where the people's elected representatives have responsibility for the final decisions about Britain's future instead of unelected commissioners."

The Royal Town Planning Institute welcomed the government's "clarification" that the function of the IPC would be retained even if the body itself is not.

Head of Policy Matt Thomson said: "It is critical that there is a specialist body with the skills and expertise to consider proposals for essential major infrastructure projects to allow decisions to be made in the national interest."

Until new primary legislation is brought forward to close the IPC, the commission will continue to consider and determine applications.

Confirming the abolition of the CRC, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said a strengthened Rural Communities Policy Unit would be created within the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Spelman said: “With an urgent need to drive down debt and reduce government spending, we will have to make some tough decisions. Our belief is that policy should be driven from the centre and that our arms length bodies will be efficient and effective in meeting customer needs.”

The minister insisted that the government was still committed to improving the quality of life for people living in rural areas. The fair treatment of rural communities would be put at the centre of government, she claimed.

Spelman added: “Focusing rural policy making within the department will give rural communities and interest groups a direct link to central policymakers and a stronger champion for rural issues at the heart of government.”

The abolition of the Rural Communities Policy Unit will be achieved through the Public Bodies (Reform) Bill.

Other quangos that face the axe include the Tenant Services Authority, which Housing Minister Grant Shapps has put under review.

DEFRA also revealed that the Animal Health and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency would be merged “as soon as possible”.