Last amended by Localism Act 2011 in 2011. Abolished the Infrastructure Planning Commission; decisions now made by the relevant Secretary of State on the recommendation of the Planning Inspectorate.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Summary
The Planning Act 2008 created a new regime for granting development consent for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) in England and Wales, including energy, transport, water, waste, and wastewater. It established the Infrastructure Planning Commission (now the Planning Inspectorate's National Infrastructure team) and National Policy Statements to guide decision-making on major infrastructure.
Key Points
- Defines nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) in energy, transport, water, waste (ss.14–30)
- Development Consent Orders (DCOs) — single consent replacing multiple permissions (s.114)
- National Policy Statements to set framework for decisions (ss.5–13)
- Examination process with written representations (ss.87–101)
- Community Infrastructure Levy (Part 11)
- Pre-application consultation requirements (ss.42–50)
Parts & Sections
Amendments History
2011 — Localism Act 2011
Abolished the Infrastructure Planning Commission; decisions now made by the relevant Secretary of State on the recommendation of the Planning Inspectorate.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the main purpose of the Planning Act 2008?
- The Planning Act 2008 created a specific regime for granting development consent for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) in England and Wales. These projects cover sectors such as energy, transport, water, waste, and wastewater. The Act established the framework for these major infrastructure decisions, including the creation of National Policy Statements to guide the process.
- What types of projects are considered nationally significant infrastructure projects?
- A project is classified as a nationally significant infrastructure project if it falls within one of the specified categories: energy, transport, water, waste water, or waste. These categories are defined within the Act to determine which major projects require the specific development consent process outlined in the legislation.
- What is a Development Consent Order?
- Development Consent Orders (DCOs) are a single consent mechanism that replaces multiple separate permissions for major infrastructure projects. Introduced by the Planning Act 2008, this streamlined approach allows for a unified decision-making process for nationally significant infrastructure projects, simplifying the approval route for developers.
- Who makes decisions on nationally significant infrastructure projects now?
- The Infrastructure Planning Commission was originally established by the Planning Act 2008 to handle decisions on major infrastructure. However, the Localism Act 2011 abolished this body. Currently, decisions are made by the relevant Secretary of State based on the recommendation of the Planning Inspectorate’s National Infrastructure team.