This article summarises the provisions of the Planning Act 2008
that introduce a new regime for the authorisation of nationally
significant infrastructure projects in the UK.
There are three new abbreviations to get used to when talking
about the new regime, which neatly cover the three main new
concepts it involves. Everything is geared towards speeding up the
authorisation of major infrastructure, mainly in England, some
types in Wales and one type in Scotland.
The first abbreviation is 'NPS'
– National Policy Statement. There are going to be about
12 of these, issued by the government in draft starting this
autumn, subjected to consultation, and then finalised in turn over
the next two or so years. These will set out national policy on a
particular area of national infrastructure in a single accessible
document, and will state to a greater or lesser degree what
infrastructure is needed over the next 15-20 years, sometimes where
it should go, sometimes who should
