PM gives green light to two new power stations and pledges to 鈥榰nblock鈥� planning system
David Cameron has thrown his weight behind an 鈥渁ll-out mission鈥� to kick-start major infrastructure projects, in a bid to boost jobs and growth.
Writing in today鈥檚 Financial Times, the Prime Minister confirmed that he has given the green light to two power plants in the north of England 鈥� at Ferrybridge and Thorpe Marsh 鈥� which will create over 1,000 construction jobs.
He said: 鈥淥ur focus is on updating our infrastructure.This year the UK came 28th in international rankings. In terms of future productivity, this infrastructure deficit is as serious as our budget deficit.
鈥淚n terms of job creation today, getting construction projects off the ground is critical.鈥�
Reiterating his commitment to planning reform, Cameron said: 鈥淭oo often projects get hobbled by planning restrictions, funding blockages or regulatory burdens. So this autumn the government is on an all-out mission to unblock the system and get projects under way.鈥�
The PM鈥檚 pledge to back building and infrastructure comes the day after 100 leading economists signed a letter to the Observer urging the Chancellor George Osborne to ease his planned cuts and implement a less austere 鈥淧lan B鈥�.
The Government is expected to come under further pressure over its economic policy this week, as the Office for National Statistics prepares to publish economic output figures. It is expected that GDP will have grown by just 0.3% between July and September.
The Prime Minister also welcomed the news that BT will complete its roll-out of superfast broadband by 2015.
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