The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has warmly welcomed the publication of the government’s proposals to reform the English planning system.

The proposals will see the introduction of an infrastructure planning commission to decide on major developments, and national policy statements to set out the strategic needs of the country - and, in a change from the proposals previously consulted upon, rail projects will now be included in this.

“For far too long, developments of national economic significance have had to go through the same planning system as a local housing project,” said FTA’s head of rail freight and global supply chain policy, Christopher Snelling. “The current inefficient and cumbersome planning system is a major reason why, for example, Britain lacks the major port capacity it requires. It is not about more things being approved - it is about making the system quicker and less expensive.”

Earlier in the November, the supply chain welcomed the government’s plans for improvements to the road and rail network in order to maximise the competitiveness of the UK economy. But the FTA has said that improvements, like motorway widening, rail gauge enhancement and improvements at ports and airports, must not wait until 2014 to start such improvements and that action is required right away.

Speaking at the FTA annual dinner at the London Hilton Hotel, president of the association Andrew Haines said: “At last the government and industry are on the same page - but alas we are not running at the same pace. We need fundamental action here and now. Not in 2014, not in 2010, but here and now. Bearing in mind the present problems of congestion, and FTA’s own forecast for gross pressure on our key trade routes as a result of the changing nature of the economy, a seven year delay will severely jeopardise the road to recovery.”