The Government has published a planning reform working paper on streamlining infrastructure planning, part of a series of working papers on different aspects of planning reform, designed to inform further policy development in collaboration with the wider sector.
The paper invites views on further action the government could take through the planning system to streamline the development of critical infrastructure, in particular Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), across England. It focuses specifically on potential legislative changes, principally to the Planning Act 2008.
Feedback from users of the NSIP system is that the process requires evolution, not revolution, to ensure it is capable of responding to changes in technology, government policy, the wider operational context, and to drive continuous improvement over time.
The paper proposes options for:
- reviewing National Policy Statements (NPSs) on a more regular basis and making it easier to update them in the interim;
- protecting the role of consultation in the consenting process but making it less burdensome;
- supporting delivery of infrastructure post-consent;
- allowing for appropriate flexibility in the process applied to projects where this is merited; and
- strengthening statutory guidance to ensure clarity over what is and is not required.
The objective of the reforms is to deliver a faster, more certain, and less costly NSIP regime, ensuring it can deliver high quality infrastructure and drive forward the growth and clean power commitments set out in the government’s Plan for Change.
If taken forward, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill would be used to implement the legislative reforms outlined in this paper. The Government is now seeking views on these proposals from stakeholders including communities, infrastructure and clean power developers and local authorities. Feedback from the working paper will inform the next stage of policy development.
The Government is seeking views on the options set out in the paper, and in particular on number of specific questions, including:
- Would the package of measures being proposed in this paper support a more streamlined and modernised process? Are there any risks with this package taken as a whole or further legislative measures the government should consider?
- Are the proposed changes to NPSs the right approach and will this support greater policy certainty?
- Do you think the proposals on consultation strike the right balance between a proportionate process and appropriate engagement with communities?
- Do you agree with the proposal to create a new duty to narrow down areas of disagreement before applications are submitted? How should this duty be designed so as to align the incentives of different actors without delaying the process?
- With respect to improvements post-consent, have we identified the right areas to speed up delivery of infrastructure after planning consent is granted?
- With respect to providing for additional flexibility, do you support the introduction of a power to enable Secretaries of State to direct projects out of the NSIP regime? Are there broader consequences for the planning system or safeguards we should consider?
- Do you believe there is a need for the consenting process to be modified or adapted to reflect the characteristics of a particular project or projects? Have we identified the main issues with existing projects and those likely to come forward in the near future?
Click here to access the planning reform working paper on streamlining infrastructure planning
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