MHCLG Consultation on streamlining infrastructure planning
Consultation description:
This consultation seeks views on changes to guidance, services operated by the public sector, and secondary legislation under the Planning Act 2008 to streamline the infrastructure planning process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
What is proposed?
This consultation seeks views on the following key proposals that support the application process for development consent under the Planning Act 2008:
1. New guidance about consultation and engagement following removal of statutory pre-application consultation requirements through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill
2. Guidance and secondary legislation to support notification and publicity
3. Guidance to support the acceptance stage for applications
4. The use of Initial Assessments of Principal Issues (IAPI) to focus examinations
5. Guidance for public bodies about their role in examinations
6. Changes to secondary legislation related to the examination of applications including compulsory acquisition
7. Reforms and improvements to pre-application services provided by the Planning Inspectorate, and the fast-track process
8. Supporting pre-application services through effective resourcing of statutory bodies
It also seeks views on the removal of statutory pre-application requirements for onshore wind projects under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 guidance.
How to Participate:
You may respond by completing an online survey at: https://consult.communities.gov.uk/planning/streamline-infrastructure-planning-and-consenting
We strongly encourage responses via the online survey, particularly from organisations with access to online facilities, such as local authorities, representative bodies, and businesses. Consultations on planning policy receive a high level of interest across many sectors. Using the online survey greatly assists our analysis of the responses, enabling more efficient and effective consideration of the issues raised for each question.
Alternatively, you can email your response to the questions in this consultation to: InfrastructurePlanning@communities.gov.uk
This consultation will open on 1 September 2025 and will close at 11:59pm on 27 October 2025.