NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING IN ENGLAND

The planning system in England was significantly altered by the Planning Act in 2008 to provide a new policy and consent regime that allowed for the co-ordinated planning of ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects’ (NSIPS) at a national rather than local level.

An NSIP is a large-scale development that is related to:

• Energy
• Transport
• Water
• Waste Water
• Waste

The new powers enabled decisions on nationally significant infrastructure projects (such as major train lines, new harbours, roads, windfarms, power stations, electricity transmission lines etc)  to be taken by Ministers following a public inquiry, rather than by local authorities.

DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDERS

Development Consent Orders (DCOs) automatically remove the requirement for those proposing NSIPs to obtain several separate planning permissions and other consents from local authorities. 

This provides for a much-streamlined process and negates the need to apply to different local authorities where large proposals are ‘cross-boundary’. 

By giving ministers powers to determine proposals, the process excludes local politics from the initial decision-making process.  It also negates the need for proposers to apply to and get an inevitable locally determined refusal before having to appeal and get a decision from the Secretary of State in any event. 

An extension of the regime in 2013 facilitated certain business and commercial projects to opt into this process as well as NSIPs.

The DCO process comprises six key stages, including pre-application, acceptance, pre-examination, examination, decision and post-decision stages.

Applications for major infrastructure projects are made direct to the Planning Inspectorate, who, upon receipt of an application for development consent, have 28 days to decide whether to accept it.

If valid, the Inspectorate then have 6 months to examine an application and three months to make a recommendation. Independent Inspectors make recommendations to the Secretary of State within the policy framework set by the Government’s National Policy Statements (NPS).

Whilst the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has overall responsibility for the planning system in England, it is the relevant Secretary of State with responsibility for the area of government business that a DCO application relates to that makes the decision in each case.  As an example, the Secretary of State for Transport would determine an application for a Transport NSIP rather than the Secretary of State for HCLG.

The Infrastructure Act 2015 amended the process for changing and revoking DCOs.  A National Infrastructure Commission was set up in 2015 to examine the England’s long-term infrastructure needs.  Onshore wind farms of over 50MW were removed from the NSIP regime in 2016. 

Changes set out in April 2017 provided for DCOs to have an element of housing when associated with an NSIP.

The Planning Inspectorate keep a register of DCO applications which is available online: PINS Register of applications.

NATIONAL POLICY STATEMENTS

National Policy Statements set out government policy and decision-making guidance applicable to ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects’ (NSIPs) in England.

There are 12 National Policy Statements, which cover:

Energy

• Overarching NPS for Energy (EN-1)
• NPS for Fossil Fuel Electricity Generating Infrastructure (EN-2)
• NPS for Renewable Energy Infrastructure (EN-3)
• NPS for Gas Supply Infrastructure and Gas and Oil Storage (EN-4)
• NPS for Electricity Networks Infrastructure (EN-5)
• NPS for Nuclear Power Generation (EN-6)

NPSs EN-1 to EN-5 were designated on 17 January 2024

These were produced by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

NPS EN-6 was designated on 19 July 2011 and had effect for listed nuclear projects capable of being deployed by the end of 2025.

This was produced by the former Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), now the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). A new NPS is being prepared by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Transitional provisions

The suite of energy NPSs was first designated in 2011. The Secretary of State has decided that for any application accepted for examination before the 2024 designations of EN-1 to EN-5 the 2011 suite of NPSs should have effect in accordance with the terms of those NPSs:

Overarching NPS for Energy (EN-1)
NPS for Fossil Fuel Electricity Generating Infrastructure (EN-2)
NPS for Renewable Energy Infrastructure (EN-3)
NPS for Gas Supply and Gas and Oil Pipelines (EN-4)
NPS for Electricity Networks Infrastructure (EN-5)

Transport

• Ports
• National Networks
• Airports

Responsibility for preparing these documents rests with the Department for Transport.

The NPS for Ports was adopted in January 2012.

The National Networks NPS (NNNPS) was designated on 24 May 2024. The NNNPS has effect for any applications for development consent accepted for examination after 24 May 2024. The 2015 NNNPS has effect for any application for development consent accepted for examination prior to 24 May 2024.

The Airport NPS which set government policy for new runway capacity and infrastructure in the SE of England was adopted in 2018. 

Water, Waste Water and Waste

• NPS for Hazardous Waste
• NPS for Waste Water
• NPS for Water Resources Infrastructure

These are produced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The NPS for Hazardous Waste was published on 6 June 2013.

The NPS for Waste Water was published on 9 February 2012.

The Geological Disposal Infrastructure NPS was designated on 17 October 2019.

The NPS for Water Resources Infrastructure was designated on 18 September 2023.