CBI and unions call on government to clear logjams delaying 37 major energy schemes that could create up to 50,000 construction jobs

The opportunity to create up to 50,000 badly needed jobs in the construction sector by building a new generation of "greener" power plants is being thrown away by long delays in the planning process, ministers have been warned.

Union leaders have joined the Confederation of British Industry in pressing the government to clear the logjams that have led to almost 40 major energy schemes being held up.

"We are calling on ministers to act now to ensure projects get under way, not only to meet Britain's energy needs but also for the valuable jobs these projects will create in the construction industry," said Tom Hardacre, national officer for the construction industry at Unite.

The call comes just days after energy secretary Chris Huhne promised to push ahead with wide-ranging energy market reform but also follows a warning from the CBI about the need to deal with the delays.

Environment consultants Atmos added to concerns this weekend by questioning whether major job cuts in local authorities and advisory bodies could lead to further postponements.

Among the 37 schemes listed by the Department of Energy and Climate Change as awaiting decisions is one by Warwick Energy that needs permission from Lib Dem-controlled North Norfolk district council to connect Dudgeon East offshore wind farm to the local electrical grid.

John Sulley, a director of Warwick Energy, said more than 400 construction jobs and around 100 operational posts would be created by the £1.5bn wind scheme, which has waited more than a year for consent to put in the power cables.

"It seems a long time to wait and it is clearly vital if we are committed to renewable energy that schemes like ours can progress as quickly as possible," he added.

But the Warwick scheme is only one of many, with Ecotricity waiting to hear about an application to build an onshore wind farm at East Heckington in Lincolnshire and Dong Energy waiting for news on Westermost Rough wind farm at Hornsea, Yorkshire.

Innovative biomass and wave schemes such as ones put forward by Drax and Wave Dragon Wales are on hold. Meanwhile, EDF is waiting for planning permission for its new combined-cycle gas turbine project at New Sutton Bridge in Lincolnshire, and E.ON is delayed on a similar scheme at Drakelow in Derbyshire.

The coalition government, which inherited many of the delays from the previous administration, has promised to speed up planning consents through the use of a newly created Major Infrastructure Unit. But John Cridland, the CBI's director-general designate, said that changes to the planning system had themselves created a mood of uncertainty among investors.

"An effective planning system is at the heart of building the low-carbon infrastructure needed to transform our economy... This government has great green ambition, but we need to see swift action if it is to fulfil its green promise," he said.

The CBI's "climate change tracker" charts progress in decarbonising four areas: power, buildings, transport and industry. Of the 13 indicators, one is green, showing that progress is on track (nuclear); three are red, meaning little progress (homes, buildings and industry); and nine are amber, showing good ambition but insufficient delivery, the business organisation reported on Friday.