Data from the Planning Ombudsman shows that the backlog of planning appeals in the UK has dropped by 9% to 12,086 public cases.
The agency said it made 18,346 appeal decisions in its first quarter reports in the past 12 months to the end of March.
It added that last month it made 1,736 decisions, more than 200 more than the 1,529 average for the 12-month period.
The median time for cases decided in the year ended March was 27 weeks.
The agency notes that its appeal case is handled in one of three ways: written statements, hearings or inquiry.
Labor said relaxing the planning rules is key to its goal of building 1.5 million homes over the next five years.
Its plan and infrastructure bill is currently underway through parliament.
Its measures include adding 300 program officials to local councils, limiting the number of government decisions on major infrastructure projects, which can be legally challenged and strengthening mandatory purchase rights.
Wood will become CEO of the new National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Bureau, which was formed earlier this month.
The agency is the result of the merger of the National Infrastructure Commission with the Infrastructure and Infrastructure and Projects Administration to deliver large projects at a speed.
