13 Apr 2026
The Government has announced measures to accelerate planning and regulatory approvals for two major clean energy projects – Sizewell C and Lighthouse Green Fuels – by appointing the Environment Agency as Lead Environmental Regulator.
Under this approach, the Environment Agency will act as a single point of contact to coordinate environmental advice across regulators. The aim is to streamline processes, reduce delays and costs, and maintain environmental standards through more joined-up working.
Sizewell C, a new nuclear power station, is expected to supply electricity to around six million homes. During peak construction, the project is anticipated to support approximately 17,000 direct and indirect jobs, including 1,500 apprenticeships.
Lighthouse Green Fuels, a proposed sustainable aviation fuel facility in Teesside, is expected to become Europe’s largest second-generation plant of its kind. It is projected to produce fuel for around 27,000 flights annually and create 2,000 construction jobs, alongside 3,400 roles across the UK supply chain.
The announcement forms part of wider government activity to support energy infrastructure delivery. This includes implementation of reforms linked to the Nuclear Regulatory Review 2025 and provisions within the Planning and Infrastructure Act aimed at accelerating decisions on nationally significant infrastructure projects.
The government has also published a roadmap setting out when changes to the planning system will take effect, including proposals to reduce the pre-application consultation period.
The measures are intended to support the delivery of major energy projects while maintaining environmental protections.
