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Major Infrastructure
Policy updates, documents and news relating to major infrastructure.
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Major Infrastructure Key Documents
National Infrastructure Commission: consultation
A Treasury consultation has been released that seeks views on the proposed governance, structure and operation of the National Infrastructure Commission.
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Planning for Infrastructure Research Project: Final Report
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Planning Act 2008: Guidance on Changes to Development Consent Orders
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Nationally significant infrastructure projects and housing: briefing note
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National policy statement for national networks: designation
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The Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2014
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Guidance on the pre-application process for major infrastructure projects
National Infrastructure Resources
- National Infrastructure Planning (Planning Portal)
- Infrastructure UK (HM Treasury)
- Policy & Legislation Tracker
The latest town planning policy & legislation news & updates including current government consultations and legislation in progress delivered by email
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Student Planner/Planning Officer (Career Graded)
Cherwell DC, Bodicote House
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Principal & Senior Planning Officers x4
Cherwell DC, Bodicote House
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Planning Policy Team Leader
Cherwell DC, Bodicote House
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Planning Policy Officer (Career Graded)
Cherwell DC, Bodicote House
Major Infrastructure News & Analysis
Government ‘external review’ to mull further on legal duty for five-yearly reviews of major infrastructure policy documents
The government has stopped short of following a recommendation of its independent infrastructure advisor to introduce a legal requirement for five-yearly reviews of national policy statements (NPSs) for certain kinds of major infrastructure projects, instead committing to an “external review of the NPS review and designation process”.
Government broadens new ‘critical national priority’ planning presumption to all renewables projects
The government is to include all renewable energy infrastructure projects under a new "critical national priority" national planning policy presumption, and has committed to bringing in a "strong starting presumption" for the use of overhead power lines outside of protected landscapes.
Government proposes ministerial ‘star chamber’ to drive major infrastructure delivery and confirms one-year route for certain projects
The government has proposed a series of measures designed to bring down the consenting time for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs), including a new “ministerially led forum” to “drive” delivery, publishing spatial data on such schemes and confirming a one-year “fast-track” route for certain developments.
New government task force to consider a more ‘spatial’ approach to infrastructure planning
Ministers plan to create a new government task force to evaluate the merits of adopting a more “spatial" approach to infrastructure planning and will consider “how judicial review is working in the planning system” as part of its long-term efforts to speed up delivery.
Major Infrastructure Policy & Legislation Updates
Major Infrastructure In Depth & Comment
The reasons why councils may be holding on to almost £3bn in unspent developer contribution cash
Research by housebuilders suggests that councils have almost £3 billion of unspent section 106 agreement planning gain cash in their coffers. But practitioners say there are good reasons why councils may want to take their time in spending their developer contributions on local projects.
Legal Viewpoint: High Court makes further judgment on scope of section 73 permissions
The High Court has once again scrutinised the limits of section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in a decision quashing the grant of a planning permission that sought to remove a substation from a solar farm development.
Backing build-to-rent distracts from the real priority of more social housing, by Cliff Hague
Increasing the supply of build-to-rent properties at discounted market rates would not solve the problem of a shortage of affordable housing, says our columnist.
The government promise of further infrastructure planning revolution that you may have missed, by Angus Walker
New government plans for broader changes to the infrastructure planning system, including possible alterations to thresholds for accessing the application route for nationally significant projects, were overshadowed by the party conference furore over HS2 cuts, says our columnist.
Policy Briefings
Policy Summary: Guidance for local authorities on the role of planning in climate change adaptation
POLICY: Preparing for a Changing Climate: Good Practice Guidance for Local Government.
Briefing: How planners can help tackle the climate crisis
Just weeks after the government signed the net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 target into law, the Committee on Climate Change's annual progress report reveals that the UK's climate change actions are failing to meet its ambitions. Kate Hodson and Olivia Dunham consider how planners can help.
Policy Summary: National Policy Statement (NPS) for Geological Disposal Infrastructure
Issued by: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (DBEIS).
