The announcement by the UK communities minister Greg Clark that the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) will be disbanded has cast doubts over plans to build more than ten new nuclear power plants in the country, reports The Times.
The IPC was set up only seven months ago by Gordon Brown's government with a view to centralizing decision-making on major infrastructural projects.
Clark reasoned that the IPC lacked accountability, but acknowledged the need for speedy delivery of crucial infrastructure such as power generation. He declined to state a time-frame for an alternative to the IPC, but added that "it is vital that there are proper democratic checks and balances".
However, companies with interests in nuclear energy expressed their displeasure at the changes in the planning system, as the resulting uncertainty could deter investors.
Infrastructure for alternative energy sources is crucial for Britain, which aims to cut CO2 emissions by 34 per cent by 2020, and limit its reliance on gas-fired power plants.
