The Planning Inspectorate has published a set of updated advice pages for applicants and others about a range of operational matters under the Planning Act 2008. This advice complements and reflects recent updates to government guidance (published in April) about the infrastructure planning system, as explained in the Introduction to National Infrastructure Planning Guidance.
We are updating our advice collection in three phases.
The first set of updated advice (phase one), which has been published today, includes:
- advice for members of the public (in six parts)
- advice for local authorities
- advice on the process for obtaining information about interests in land
- advice on the process regarding rights of entry
- advice on the preparation and submission of application documents
- advice on compiling the consultation report
- advice on requests to change applications after they have been accepted for examination
This advice makes reference to new elements of the infrastructure planning system, such as the Planning Inspectorate’s tiered pre-application services as detailed in the 2024 Pre-application Prospectus and Pre-application stage guidance, the fast-track consenting route, updated information about making relevant representations and how to submit them on the new Find a National Infrastructure Project website.
The second phase of advice updates, expected to be published later this year, will cover cumulative effects assessments, transboundary impacts and process, the habitats regulations assessment, the water framework directive, and working with public bodies.
The third phase of advice updates, also expected to be published later this year, will include a separate advice page on environmental statements, updated advice on the environmental impact assessment process, revised advice on the drafting of development consent orders, and new advice on achieving good design in NSIPs. The Planning Inspectorate also intends to issue technical advice for specific infrastructure sectors, starting with solar later this year.
The Planning Inspectorate will issue further news on the progress of this work in due course.