Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) are projects which are considered by the Government to be of national importance due to their size, impact, or strategic significance. Examples of NSIPs include:

• major energy facilities
• transportation networks
• waste management installations.

A Development Consent Order (DCO) is needed to undertake a NSIP. Responsibility for accepting and examining the NSIP application rests with the Planning Inspectorate (PINs) on behalf of the Secretary of State and not the local authorities. Local authorities are identified as statutory consultees, or ‘host’ authorities, in the NSIP process.

The process

The whole NSIP process from the formal submission of the application through to determination and decision normally takes around 15 months. This is broken down as follows: 

• 28 days for the Planning Inspectorate to accept the application
• a flexible period for pre-examination of around 3 months
• a maximum of 6 months for the Examination
• a further 3 months for a recommendation to be provided to the Secretary of State by the Planning Inspectorate 
• 3 months for the Secretary of State to make a decision.

As the pre-examination stage does not have a formal timescale attached to it, each project will be different, but it does provide a useful starting point.

Our role

The role of the local authorities as statutory consultees can be summed up in 3 ways:

• examining the applicant’s NSIP application;
• offering technical advice as part of the consultation process; and
• ensuring that adequate public consultation is carried out.

When an application falls within Cambridge City Council and/or South Cambridgeshire District Council, the Councils become known as a ‘host authority’. The host authorities work together to ensure full scrutiny of projects in our areas is undertaken.

The ‘host’ planning authorities are not the determining authorities, and do not grant or deny the DCO.

Any correspondence in relation to NSIPs must be directed to the applicant (details for which can be found on the relevant NSIP project page) in the first instance, and then the Planning Inspectorate.

Taking part in the NSIP process

Members of the public can take part in the NSIP process and comment on applications in the following ways:

• take part in pre-application consultations
• register to take part in the Examination (Members of the public can register as interested parties once an application has been accepted for Examination by PINs, by submitting a relevant representation)
• make written submissions and respond to Examiner’s questions
• attend hearings and site visits
• check the PINs project website for updates or further consultations by the secretary of state that you may wish to respond to.

Read more abut the NSIP process on the Planning Inspectorates website.