Planning for infrastructure

Infrastructure is a broad term which can encompass a wide range of sectors and types of projects, ranging from schools, hospitals, roads and railway lines to wind, waste and water projects, oil and gas facilities, pipelines and processing plants. Infrastructure projects are often high value and complex and the parties will need to understand, and ensure that the contractual arrangements in place provide for the commercial, strategic, technical, geographical and political factors and the associated risks involved. Due to the broad spectrum of issues involved, infrastructure projects will often involve lawyers from a number of practice areas.

This subtopic looks at planning consent for major infrastructure projects under the regime set out in the Planning Act 2008 (PA 2008).

Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs)

PA 2008 process was introduced to streamline the decision-making process for NSIPs for transport, energy, water and waste infrastructure, making it fairer and faster for communities and developers alike. NSIPs include:

•
electricity generation projects
•
overhead electric lines
•
underground gas storage
•
Liquefied Natural Gas facilities
•
gas reception facilities
•
gas transporter pipelines
•
other pipelines
•
highways
•
airports
•
harbour facilities
•
railways

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

TAKE A FREE TRIAL

Latest Public Law News

UK COVID-19, Module 3 – evidence of Matt Hancock

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care between 9 July 2018 and 26 June 2021, Matt Hancock, gave evidence to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry on 21 November 2024. Module 3 looks into the governmental and societal response to coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as dissecting the impact that the pandemic had on healthcare systems, patients and health care workers. This includes healthcare governance, primary care, NHS backlogs, the effects on healthcare provision by vaccination programmes and long diagnosis and support.

Scottish Affairs Committee launches inquiry into Scottish Government financing

The Scottish Affairs Committee (SAC) has launched an inquiry into the financing of the Scottish Government within the UK framework. The investigation will scrutinise the efficacy of the Barnett formula, which determines funding changes for devolved public services, and examine the wider fiscal framework. Key areas of focus include potential reforms to the Barnett formula, the impact of UK Government fiscal events on Scottish funding, and the effectiveness of Block Grant Adjustments. The inquiry will also explore the possibility of expanding Scottish Government borrowing powers and assess the level of coordination between UK and Scottish Governments regarding fiscal changes. The Committee has invited written submissions addressing these issues by 5th January, with the aim of evaluating and potentially improving Scotland's current funding arrangements and fiscal devolution model.

CJC concludes comprehensive review of pre-action protocols with publication of final report (phase two)

The Civil Justice Council (CJC) has concluded its extensive review of pre-action protocols (PAPs) with the publication of its phase two report. The first phase of the final report, published in August 2023, examined the role of PAPs in the civil justice system and explored the potential for digitalising pre-action processes. The second phase was published in November 2024. In the second (and final) phase report the CJC has set out its recommendations for the reform of various existing PAPs, including those for Personal Injury, Housing, Judicial Review, Debt, Construction and Engineering, Professional Negligence and Media and Communications. The report also recommends the creation of two new PAPs, one for dealing with child abuse and one for Multi-Track Claims in the Business and Property Courts of England and Wales (with a draft included at Appendix 1).

UKIP support is not a protected belief, tribunal rules

Law360: A charity beat claims that it discriminated against a former employee after an employment tribunal ruled that supporting the right-wing UK Independence Party (UKIP) and opposing halal meat aren't protected beliefs.