The briefing paper states that the Infrastructure Act 2015 made some changes to the NSIP regime, in respect of timing of the appointment of the examining authority, providing for two-person Panels, and amending the process for changes to, and revocation of, development consent orders. Some of these changes have yet to come into force.
As part of on-going reform of the NSIP regime, a number of non-planning related consents, including those relating to European Protected Species Licences are expected be brought within the development consent regime over the course of the 2015-2020 Parliament. The Government has also announced its intention to remove onshore wind of 50 megawatts and above from the NSIP regime, so that the primary decision maker would be the local planning authority, rather than the Secretary of State. A Wales Bill would devolve powers to Welsh Ministers for the consenting of energy schemes both onshore and offshore of up to 350 megawatts capacity.
This note applies to England and in some circumstances to Wales.
Date: 1/6/2015 Date of publication
Author: House of Commons Library
DCP link: This item updates DCP section 26.43
