Plans for fast-tracking a new generation of nuclear power stations are to be announced by the government.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband will unveil statements of policy including a list of sites judged suitable for nuclear developments.

Changes to planning laws would let the Infrastructure Planning Commission hurry through new schemes if it rules they comply with the policy statements.

But Friends of the Earth warned that nuclear power was "not the answer".

'Legal challenge'

Ministers hope the reforms will avoid battles such as the six-year struggle to steer the Sizewell B power station through the planning process.

It is thought they will encourage companies such as E.ON, RWE npower and EDF to produce a new generations of UK power stations as early as 2017.

“ We don't need coal or nuclear ”  Robin Oakley Greenpeace

But environmentalists warn people will not be able to influence decisions on major projects because schemes covered by the statements will not be subject to a public inquiry.

They also argue that the government could be open to legal challenge if its statements do not give enough weight to climate change.

Friends of the Earth executive director Andy Atkins said the fight against climate change should be at the "core" of all government decisions.

But he warned: "Nuclear power leaves a deadly legacy of radioactive waste that remains highly dangerous for tens of thousands of years and costs tens of billions of pounds to manage.

"And building new plants would divert precious resources from developing safe renewable power, while doing little to bring about the urgent emissions reductions that are desperately needed within the next decade."

Robin Oakley, head of Greenpeace's climate and energy campaign, said nuclear power was a "dangerous and expensive irrelevance".

He added: "We don't need coal or nuclear, because proven green technologies such as wind and combined heat and power stations can secure Britain's energy needs, create green jobs and slash our emissions."

'Huge challenge'

However, ministers insist companies will have to work closely with local regions and demonstrate they have consulted widely before they can gain approval.

Mr Miliband said the transition to a low-carbon economy would be a "huge challenge".

He added: "We now need to move on to getting the actions in place to make it happen.

"That is why the national policy statements and Infrastructure Planning Commission are important, because the truth is that we are not going to be able to deliver a 21st Century energy system with a 20th Century planning system."

The statements are expected to refer to the limits of fossil fuels and the threat of climate change while calling for nuclear power stations.

Mr Miliband will also set out a framework for clean coal "carbon capture and storage" technology.

Alongside nuclear power, the government will issue draft policy statements on the need for new a energy infrastructure which includes fossil fuels, gas and renewable sources, as well as an overarching energy statement. (ENA)