National Policy Statements & the IPC

02-Jul-10

The IPC

Decentralisation Minster Greg Clark announced the closure of the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) on the 29 June 2010. Mr Clark confirmed that the Infrastructure Planning Commission will be abolished in line with the Coalition Government's Agreement. 

A Major Infrastructure Planning Unit will be established in the Planning Inspectorate to continue fast-tracking major infrastructure projects. Ministers will take decisions on applications within the same statutory fast-track timeframe as the current regime.

In addition, all National Policy Statements (NPS), the Government's future infrastructure blueprints, will now be subject to ratification by Parliament. Ministers believe these critically important national documents must have the strongest possible democratic legitimacy.

Transitional Arrangements
Until new legislation is in place the Infrastructure Planning Commission will continue in its present role until it is abolished. During this interim period, should an application reach decision-stage and where the relevant National Policy Statement has been designated, the Infrastructure Planning Commission will decide the application. If an application reaches decision stage and the relevant National Policy Statement has not been designated, the Infrastructure Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State, who will take the decision.

For those applications under active consideration by the Infrastructure Planning Commission when it is abolished, transitional provisions will enable the examination of such applications to continue without interruption, through a seamless transfer to the new Major Infrastructure Planning Unit. There is no question of applications having to restart the process and we intend that the statutory timetable for decision-taking will be no longer than the current regime.

The Government wants to have National Policy Statements in place as rapidly as possible. The Government intends to complete the process for making the Energy (including Nuclear) National Policy Statements, which are part-way through the scrutiny process, and will bring forward revised final texts and ask Parliament to ratify them. Plans for how to take forward the remaining National Policy Statements under development will be published in a more detailed implementation plan - including transitional arrangements and a revised timetable - later in the summer.

National Policy Statements

On the 9th November 2009 the Government released 7 of the 12 National Policy Statements (NPS). The first focus on energy and ports. They are intended to establish the national need for a particular type of major infrastructure, together with a series of criteria relating to the benefits and impacts of a development. The RTPI has responded to the first raft of national policy statements in a media release which can be accessed here.

The RTPI has been a strong supporter of the principle that the UK should develop NPSs for key infrastructures, to inform planning decision making. For this reason, the RTPI has supported key components of the Planning Act 2008.

CLG has published guidance for local authorities involved in the new regime for examining and determining nationally significant projects (NSIPs). It can be accessed here.

The IPC has published a number of guidance and advice notes intended to assist the new process including:

Preparing Local Impact Reports, The Pre-application Stage, Preparation of Applications, and the Outreach Programme. For information on guidance notes click here.

Member Consultation on National Policy Statements

The RTPI is committed to a full and wide ranging consultation with its members on the raft of NPSs coming forward. Through this web page you will be able to submit your views on emerging government consultations and help shape and inform the RTPI's responses.

Please click here to add your comments to our discussion forum or email our Policy Team. Your views will be considered when preparing our response to the Government's National Policy Statements.

As they are submitted, responses to consultations will be available here.

We have set up individual online discussion forums for each NPS. Click on the links below if you would like further information on each NPS and for your opportunity to contribute to these.

Energy & Climate Change Select Committee

Click here to read the RTPI's submission to the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee review of the Energy NPSs.

Transport Select Committee

Click here to access the RTPI's submission to the Transport Select Committee reviewing the Ports NPS.

Consultation for National Policy Statement for Ports

The RTPI submitted its response to the Ports NPS consultation on the 15th February 2010.

Consultation for Energy National Policy Statements

The RTPI submitted its response to the National Policy Statements for Energy Infrastructure on the 22nd February 2010.

Energy National Policy Statements include:

Together with:

  • Ports NPS
  • National Networks (Road & Rail) NPS (expected 2010)
  • Waste Water NPS (expected Spring 2010)
  • Hazardous Waste NPS (expected Summer 2010)
  • Water Supply NPS (expected late 2010)
  • Aviation NPS (expected 2011)

Criteria

The RTPI believes that a distinction should be drawn between national and international criteria and that the government should take into account the Regional Spatial Strategies and the core strategy which will include local interest through their own consultation processes. We do not however, support local councils attempting to place a ban on sites in their local plans. 

Our clearly articulated tests for sound NPSs were developed with our members through the passing of the Planning Act 2008:

  • They must be drawn up on a firm base of rigorously tested evidence
  • They must consider a broad range of options and their implications
  • They must take as their guiding and integrating principle the promotion of sustainable development
  • They must be as locationally-specific as possible
  • They must be thoroughly tested through open and transparent public engagement and debate

In addition, the RTPI believe that the policies must be:

  • spatial
  • integrated
  • cross-cutting
  • programme related (i.e. be cognisant of funding and implementation considerations)
  • closely related to existing policies such as Planning Policy Statements or their equivalent.

These criteria will help inform the RTPI in it's response to each NPS.

If you would like to find out more about what the RTPI is doing to respond to national policy statements please contact the policy team.

Related RTPI policy positions

 

 
Author:
Rebecca Coates
Publisher:
The Royal Town Planning Institute
Date:
02-Jul-10
Categories:
Nations & Regions, Networks & Associations, Planning / Planning Resources, Policy, Practice 
Sections:
News & Media , The RTPI

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