Plans for a fast-track system to approve new nuclear power stations threaten to cause a revolt by Labour MPs who claim that the policy bypasses democratic controls.

At least 30 Labour backbenchers are ready to support a joint amendment with the Conservatives to scupper the main element of the reforms, which could also change planning rules for motorways and airport terminals.

The centrepiece of the Planning Bill, which returns to the Commons on Monday, is a new independent planning commission that would take all the key decisions about where nuclear plants and other big infrastructure projects would be sited.

But the proposal has faced widespread opposition from environmental and consumer groups, who argue that these decisions should be taken by ministers rather than a panel of unelected “experts” who are not accountable to Parliament.

Local councils are also furious that they would be excluded from the planning process, which means that local residents would not be able formally to oppose nuclear plants or motorways to be built near by.

John Healey, the Planning Minister, hastily wrote to MPs yesterday with a series of concessions to try to stop the rebels wrecking the Bill, which seeks to speed planning approval for big projects but he has failed to compromise on the main issue that the commission takes the final decision.

Many big installations, such as airports, motorways and nuclear stations, can take more than ten years to build because of bureaucratic planning laws. The new legislation is expected to reduce decision-making to a year and save £300 million a year.

More than 63 MPs have signed a Commons motion opposing the plan and rebel leaders predicted yesterday that at least 30 could be persuaded to back the amendment when the Bill is debated in the Commons. The amendment takes the final decision away from the commission and returns it to the Secretary of State. One rebel said that opposition had been difficult to or-ganise during the recess but MPs would be contacted over the weekend.

The rebel ringleaders include Clive Betts, Labour MP for Sheffield Attercliffe, who tabled the amendment, John Grogan, MP for Selby, and Paddy Tipping, MP for Sherwood and former Deputy Leader of the Commons. Mr Betts said: “I think it is really very worrying that matters such as a new nuclear power station, a new airport or a major new motorway could all be eventually determined by an unaccountable, unelected commissioner.”

Mr Grogan said the perceived success of granting independence to the Bank of England had encouraged Mr Brown to favour handing decision-making powers to experts outside politics but this had not always worked, as the case of supercasinos showed.

Mr Healey has told MPs that he is prepared to change the legislation to allow Parliament a greater say, although the ultimate decisions would be taken by the independent commission. Parliament will be able to scruti-nise draft national policy statements and have some say in the appointment of the chairman of the infrastructure planning commission. The Bill will also be amended to ensure that residents will be entitled to compensation where the policy affects them directly.

The Tories, who are backing the amendment, seized on the mounting opposition. “If this amendment is passed, a flagship policy of Gordon Brown will be in tatters and further undermine his credibility,” Jacqui Lait, Shadow Minister for Planning, said.

Lost voice

The public may lose the right to a say on:

— Super-incinerators at Deptford and Colnbrook

— Up to ten nuclear plants, including Sizewell and Calderhall

— Airport expansions at Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, East Midlands, Heathrow and Stansted

— Road schemes including M6 widening and a Mersey bridge

Source: Friends of the Earth

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