Found: In light of the Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduced in March 2025, we feel it would

Found: Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) are a central feature of the UK's Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: 2050 will require just 2.6% of UK land.1 Planning reform for energy infrastructure Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: : Integrated guidance aligning NPS updates with emerging policy frameworks like the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: We presume this is being facilitated via legislative changes proposed through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Therefore, we urge consideration of the effect of the government’s amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: This can be addressed through minor amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill (see Annexure

Found: those projects delivering into the SSEP and/or CSNP should be so designated When the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: protections to landscapes and biodiversity that are being proposed in the NPSs and the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: directly influence energy infrastructure and spatial planning—such as the proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: : Integrated guidance aligning NPS updates with emerging policy frameworks like the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: policies affecting energy infrastructure projects and spatial management, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill ping pong (19 and 25 March); Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: areas. 14.The re-introduction of statutory Development Corporations, as proposed in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: therefore, implemented changes to the National Planning Framework and is taking forward the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: claims that are totally without merit and could be introduced via an amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Progress with development corporations in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will help but is this

Found: new towns (e.g. we see the expansion of powers for development corporations in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: introduction of New Town Development Corporations (NTDCs) and locally-led NTDCs within the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: missions’ objectives, including the development of a 10 Year Health Plan for England, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: As you know, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will bring these spatial development strategies into

Found: It came up yesterday in the first stage of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill in terms of how we are

Found: particular concerns that the Government is pressing ahead with weakening laws (via the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: The Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduces new mechanisms such as Environmental Delivery

Found: The Planning and Infrastructure Bill, currently in Parliament, also contains important and positive

Found: – Natural England, December 2020 9 UK Government, Planning and Infrastructure Bill - Parliamentary Bills

Found: Alongside the government’s various planning reform announcements, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: As you rightly say, land value capture post the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, and the changes to

Found: As you rightly say, land value capture post the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, and the changes to

Found: o We would support an amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to strengthen

Found: Q153 Lord Fuller: I am interested in planning, and the Planning and Infrastructure Bill is before us

Found: Planning and Infrastructure Bill Dr Victoria Hills, Chief Executive, Royal Town Planning Institute;

Found: The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is bringing forward a measure that will allow more agile updates

Found: The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is bringing forward a measure that will allow more agile updates

Found: Frankly, the proposals in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill don’t give us any confidence.

Found: Frankly, the proposals in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill don’t give us any confidence.

Found: The forthcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill is a welcome opportunity to bring forward some of these

Found: Some of the proposals in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, including duties on development corporations

Found: Indeed the Government’s own impact statement in relation to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill finds

Found: The provisions laid out in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill are the right steps.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 8 May to Question 49985 on Planning: Appeals, when he plans to publish the guidance.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Guidance on the costs that may be considered when calculating planning fees will be published at the earliest opportunity following Royal Assent of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 18 of the report by Britain Remade entitled Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving, published in August 2024, on updating the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee code of practice, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of adopting a nationwide waiver specific for utilities left in place on tram routes for Section 82 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I note that the report by Britain Remade entitled ‘Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving’ makes various recommendations about how tramway construction can be made quicker, cheaper and easier.

Whilst there are lessons to be learned from across the globe, the development and delivery of mass transit, including trams, is devolved in England. It is for local authorities to identify and bring forward the best mass transit solutions for their areas. My Department has a large team who work closely with Mayoral Combined Authorities and the largest Local Transport Authorities on plans for mass transit systems where those might form part of the local transport system in our largest cities.

My Department also works closely with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC(UK)) to reduce the impact of street and road works on members of the public. HAUC(UK) are currently reviewing the Diversionary Works Code of Practice with Department officials. There are currently no plans to amend the ‘The Streets Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulation 2000’.

The New Road and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) balances the statutory rights of highway authorities and undertakers to carry out works and to minimise the disruption caused by these works. Financial incentives play an important role in ensuring compliance with requirements. There is a risk that by removing safeguards when utilities work on tram routes, reinstatements may not be fit for purpose, resulting in damage and possible safety issues that the tram company operator or Local Highway Authority would then need to resolve.

The proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill also aims to streamline infrastructure delivery, including through reforms to the Transport and Works Act 1992. The reforms will deliver a consenting process to enable the authorisation of new railways or tramways in England and Wales (as well as guided transport schemes and inland waterways) that reduces unnecessary administrative burdens placed on applicants pursuing transport infrastructure projects under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA92) regime. The Bill will make various technical amendments to the TWA92 to ensure the regime is fit for purpose and proportionate, with the intention of streamlining and improving the efficiency of delivering new transport schemes. Measures include enabling cost recovery for statutory consultees and local authorities to support their resourcing and encourage timely, high-quality input. They also include introducing statutory deadlines for determination of applications to provide greater certainty for stakeholders. Other measures are allowing the inclusion of additional authorisations to streamline multiple approval processes, replacing model clauses with more flexible guidance, and clarifying legislation through amendments.

In terms of studying and implementing cheaper, shallower trackbeds, my Department is supporting the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) research and development project which aims to deliver all the benefits of a modern light rail solution at half the cost and time, with reduced disruption during construction due to its innovative shallow track form and battery-operated vehicle.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 18 of the report by Britain Remade entitled Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving, published in August 2024, on updating the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee code of practice, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of updating the Streets Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulation 2000 to rebalance the cost of diverting utilities from tram projects to utility companies.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I note that the report by Britain Remade entitled ‘Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving’ makes various recommendations about how tramway construction can be made quicker, cheaper and easier.

Whilst there are lessons to be learned from across the globe, the development and delivery of mass transit, including trams, is devolved in England. It is for local authorities to identify and bring forward the best mass transit solutions for their areas. My Department has a large team who work closely with Mayoral Combined Authorities and the largest Local Transport Authorities on plans for mass transit systems where those might form part of the local transport system in our largest cities.

My Department also works closely with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC(UK)) to reduce the impact of street and road works on members of the public. HAUC(UK) are currently reviewing the Diversionary Works Code of Practice with Department officials. There are currently no plans to amend the ‘The Streets Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulation 2000’.

The New Road and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) balances the statutory rights of highway authorities and undertakers to carry out works and to minimise the disruption caused by these works. Financial incentives play an important role in ensuring compliance with requirements. There is a risk that by removing safeguards when utilities work on tram routes, reinstatements may not be fit for purpose, resulting in damage and possible safety issues that the tram company operator or Local Highway Authority would then need to resolve.

The proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill also aims to streamline infrastructure delivery, including through reforms to the Transport and Works Act 1992. The reforms will deliver a consenting process to enable the authorisation of new railways or tramways in England and Wales (as well as guided transport schemes and inland waterways) that reduces unnecessary administrative burdens placed on applicants pursuing transport infrastructure projects under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA92) regime. The Bill will make various technical amendments to the TWA92 to ensure the regime is fit for purpose and proportionate, with the intention of streamlining and improving the efficiency of delivering new transport schemes. Measures include enabling cost recovery for statutory consultees and local authorities to support their resourcing and encourage timely, high-quality input. They also include introducing statutory deadlines for determination of applications to provide greater certainty for stakeholders. Other measures are allowing the inclusion of additional authorisations to streamline multiple approval processes, replacing model clauses with more flexible guidance, and clarifying legislation through amendments.

In terms of studying and implementing cheaper, shallower trackbeds, my Department is supporting the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) research and development project which aims to deliver all the benefits of a modern light rail solution at half the cost and time, with reduced disruption during construction due to its innovative shallow track form and battery-operated vehicle.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference page 15 of Britain Remade's report entitled Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving, published in August 2024, whether she plans to devolve the Transport and Works Act 1992 approval process to allow regional mayors to sign off on new projects.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I note that the report by Britain Remade entitled ‘Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving’ makes various recommendations about how tramway construction can be made quicker, cheaper and easier.

Whilst there are lessons to be learned from across the globe, the development and delivery of mass transit, including trams, is devolved in England. It is for local authorities to identify and bring forward the best mass transit solutions for their areas. My Department has a large team who work closely with Mayoral Combined Authorities and the largest Local Transport Authorities on plans for mass transit systems where those might form part of the local transport system in our largest cities.

My Department also works closely with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC(UK)) to reduce the impact of street and road works on members of the public. HAUC(UK) are currently reviewing the Diversionary Works Code of Practice with Department officials. There are currently no plans to amend the ‘The Streets Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulation 2000’.

The New Road and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) balances the statutory rights of highway authorities and undertakers to carry out works and to minimise the disruption caused by these works. Financial incentives play an important role in ensuring compliance with requirements. There is a risk that by removing safeguards when utilities work on tram routes, reinstatements may not be fit for purpose, resulting in damage and possible safety issues that the tram company operator or Local Highway Authority would then need to resolve.

The proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill also aims to streamline infrastructure delivery, including through reforms to the Transport and Works Act 1992. The reforms will deliver a consenting process to enable the authorisation of new railways or tramways in England and Wales (as well as guided transport schemes and inland waterways) that reduces unnecessary administrative burdens placed on applicants pursuing transport infrastructure projects under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA92) regime. The Bill will make various technical amendments to the TWA92 to ensure the regime is fit for purpose and proportionate, with the intention of streamlining and improving the efficiency of delivering new transport schemes. Measures include enabling cost recovery for statutory consultees and local authorities to support their resourcing and encourage timely, high-quality input. They also include introducing statutory deadlines for determination of applications to provide greater certainty for stakeholders. Other measures are allowing the inclusion of additional authorisations to streamline multiple approval processes, replacing model clauses with more flexible guidance, and clarifying legislation through amendments.

In terms of studying and implementing cheaper, shallower trackbeds, my Department is supporting the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) research and development project which aims to deliver all the benefits of a modern light rail solution at half the cost and time, with reduced disruption during construction due to its innovative shallow track form and battery-operated vehicle.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the findings on p.18 of the report by Britain Remade entitled Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving, published in August 2024, on updating the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee code of practice.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I note that the report by Britain Remade entitled ‘Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving’ makes various recommendations about how tramway construction can be made quicker, cheaper and easier.

Whilst there are lessons to be learned from across the globe, the development and delivery of mass transit, including trams, is devolved in England. It is for local authorities to identify and bring forward the best mass transit solutions for their areas. My Department has a large team who work closely with Mayoral Combined Authorities and the largest Local Transport Authorities on plans for mass transit systems where those might form part of the local transport system in our largest cities.

My Department also works closely with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC(UK)) to reduce the impact of street and road works on members of the public. HAUC(UK) are currently reviewing the Diversionary Works Code of Practice with Department officials. There are currently no plans to amend the ‘The Streets Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulation 2000’.

The New Road and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) balances the statutory rights of highway authorities and undertakers to carry out works and to minimise the disruption caused by these works. Financial incentives play an important role in ensuring compliance with requirements. There is a risk that by removing safeguards when utilities work on tram routes, reinstatements may not be fit for purpose, resulting in damage and possible safety issues that the tram company operator or Local Highway Authority would then need to resolve.

The proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill also aims to streamline infrastructure delivery, including through reforms to the Transport and Works Act 1992. The reforms will deliver a consenting process to enable the authorisation of new railways or tramways in England and Wales (as well as guided transport schemes and inland waterways) that reduces unnecessary administrative burdens placed on applicants pursuing transport infrastructure projects under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA92) regime. The Bill will make various technical amendments to the TWA92 to ensure the regime is fit for purpose and proportionate, with the intention of streamlining and improving the efficiency of delivering new transport schemes. Measures include enabling cost recovery for statutory consultees and local authorities to support their resourcing and encourage timely, high-quality input. They also include introducing statutory deadlines for determination of applications to provide greater certainty for stakeholders. Other measures are allowing the inclusion of additional authorisations to streamline multiple approval processes, replacing model clauses with more flexible guidance, and clarifying legislation through amendments.

In terms of studying and implementing cheaper, shallower trackbeds, my Department is supporting the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) research and development project which aims to deliver all the benefits of a modern light rail solution at half the cost and time, with reduced disruption during construction due to its innovative shallow track form and battery-operated vehicle.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 19 of the report by Britain Remade entitled Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving, published in August 2024, on updating the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee code of practice, what steps her Department is taking to (a) study and (b) implement cheaper shallower trackbeds.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I note that the report by Britain Remade entitled ‘Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving’ makes various recommendations about how tramway construction can be made quicker, cheaper and easier.

Whilst there are lessons to be learned from across the globe, the development and delivery of mass transit, including trams, is devolved in England. It is for local authorities to identify and bring forward the best mass transit solutions for their areas. My Department has a large team who work closely with Mayoral Combined Authorities and the largest Local Transport Authorities on plans for mass transit systems where those might form part of the local transport system in our largest cities.

My Department also works closely with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC(UK)) to reduce the impact of street and road works on members of the public. HAUC(UK) are currently reviewing the Diversionary Works Code of Practice with Department officials. There are currently no plans to amend the ‘The Streets Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulation 2000’.

The New Road and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) balances the statutory rights of highway authorities and undertakers to carry out works and to minimise the disruption caused by these works. Financial incentives play an important role in ensuring compliance with requirements. There is a risk that by removing safeguards when utilities work on tram routes, reinstatements may not be fit for purpose, resulting in damage and possible safety issues that the tram company operator or Local Highway Authority would then need to resolve.

The proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill also aims to streamline infrastructure delivery, including through reforms to the Transport and Works Act 1992. The reforms will deliver a consenting process to enable the authorisation of new railways or tramways in England and Wales (as well as guided transport schemes and inland waterways) that reduces unnecessary administrative burdens placed on applicants pursuing transport infrastructure projects under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA92) regime. The Bill will make various technical amendments to the TWA92 to ensure the regime is fit for purpose and proportionate, with the intention of streamlining and improving the efficiency of delivering new transport schemes. Measures include enabling cost recovery for statutory consultees and local authorities to support their resourcing and encourage timely, high-quality input. They also include introducing statutory deadlines for determination of applications to provide greater certainty for stakeholders. Other measures are allowing the inclusion of additional authorisations to streamline multiple approval processes, replacing model clauses with more flexible guidance, and clarifying legislation through amendments.

In terms of studying and implementing cheaper, shallower trackbeds, my Department is supporting the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) research and development project which aims to deliver all the benefits of a modern light rail solution at half the cost and time, with reduced disruption during construction due to its innovative shallow track form and battery-operated vehicle.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 14 of the report by Britain Remade entitled Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving, published in August 2024, what assessment she has made creating a speciality delivery unit responsible for (a) trams, (b) metro and (c) light rail within her Department's public transport and local group.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I note that the report by Britain Remade entitled ‘Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving’ makes various recommendations about how tramway construction can be made quicker, cheaper and easier.

Whilst there are lessons to be learned from across the globe, the development and delivery of mass transit, including trams, is devolved in England. It is for local authorities to identify and bring forward the best mass transit solutions for their areas. My Department has a large team who work closely with Mayoral Combined Authorities and the largest Local Transport Authorities on plans for mass transit systems where those might form part of the local transport system in our largest cities.

My Department also works closely with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC(UK)) to reduce the impact of street and road works on members of the public. HAUC(UK) are currently reviewing the Diversionary Works Code of Practice with Department officials. There are currently no plans to amend the ‘The Streets Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulation 2000’.

The New Road and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) balances the statutory rights of highway authorities and undertakers to carry out works and to minimise the disruption caused by these works. Financial incentives play an important role in ensuring compliance with requirements. There is a risk that by removing safeguards when utilities work on tram routes, reinstatements may not be fit for purpose, resulting in damage and possible safety issues that the tram company operator or Local Highway Authority would then need to resolve.

The proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill also aims to streamline infrastructure delivery, including through reforms to the Transport and Works Act 1992. The reforms will deliver a consenting process to enable the authorisation of new railways or tramways in England and Wales (as well as guided transport schemes and inland waterways) that reduces unnecessary administrative burdens placed on applicants pursuing transport infrastructure projects under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA92) regime. The Bill will make various technical amendments to the TWA92 to ensure the regime is fit for purpose and proportionate, with the intention of streamlining and improving the efficiency of delivering new transport schemes. Measures include enabling cost recovery for statutory consultees and local authorities to support their resourcing and encourage timely, high-quality input. They also include introducing statutory deadlines for determination of applications to provide greater certainty for stakeholders. Other measures are allowing the inclusion of additional authorisations to streamline multiple approval processes, replacing model clauses with more flexible guidance, and clarifying legislation through amendments.

In terms of studying and implementing cheaper, shallower trackbeds, my Department is supporting the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) research and development project which aims to deliver all the benefits of a modern light rail solution at half the cost and time, with reduced disruption during construction due to its innovative shallow track form and battery-operated vehicle.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the findings on page 14 of the report by Britain Remade entitled Back on Track: How to Build New Trams in the UK and Get Britain Moving, published in August 2024, whether she has considered the proposals to create a national tram standard modelled after the German common standards (a) VDV Blue Books and (b) BOStrab.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I note that the report by Britain Remade entitled ‘Back on Track: How To Build New Trams in The UK and Get Britain Moving’ makes various recommendations about how tramway construction can be made quicker, cheaper and easier.

Whilst there are lessons to be learned from across the globe, the development and delivery of mass transit, including trams, is devolved in England. It is for local authorities to identify and bring forward the best mass transit solutions for their areas. My Department has a large team who work closely with Mayoral Combined Authorities and the largest Local Transport Authorities on plans for mass transit systems where those might form part of the local transport system in our largest cities.

My Department also works closely with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC(UK)) to reduce the impact of street and road works on members of the public. HAUC(UK) are currently reviewing the Diversionary Works Code of Practice with Department officials. There are currently no plans to amend the ‘The Streets Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulation 2000’.

The New Road and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) balances the statutory rights of highway authorities and undertakers to carry out works and to minimise the disruption caused by these works. Financial incentives play an important role in ensuring compliance with requirements. There is a risk that by removing safeguards when utilities work on tram routes, reinstatements may not be fit for purpose, resulting in damage and possible safety issues that the tram company operator or Local Highway Authority would then need to resolve.

The proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill also aims to streamline infrastructure delivery, including through reforms to the Transport and Works Act 1992. The reforms will deliver a consenting process to enable the authorisation of new railways or tramways in England and Wales (as well as guided transport schemes and inland waterways) that reduces unnecessary administrative burdens placed on applicants pursuing transport infrastructure projects under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA92) regime. The Bill will make various technical amendments to the TWA92 to ensure the regime is fit for purpose and proportionate, with the intention of streamlining and improving the efficiency of delivering new transport schemes. Measures include enabling cost recovery for statutory consultees and local authorities to support their resourcing and encourage timely, high-quality input. They also include introducing statutory deadlines for determination of applications to provide greater certainty for stakeholders. Other measures are allowing the inclusion of additional authorisations to streamline multiple approval processes, replacing model clauses with more flexible guidance, and clarifying legislation through amendments.

In terms of studying and implementing cheaper, shallower trackbeds, my Department is supporting the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) research and development project which aims to deliver all the benefits of a modern light rail solution at half the cost and time, with reduced disruption during construction due to its innovative shallow track form and battery-operated vehicle.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to Appendix 2 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill Impact Assessment, Annex 1: Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects reform, what the target date is for the publication of EN-8 on Nuclear Fusion Energy.

Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department plans to publish its response to the consultation on a Fusion Energy National Policy Statement EN-8 soon. Further details will be available in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 45696 on Planning Permission, if she will publish the Planning and Infrastructure Bill environmental principles assessment.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Environmental Principles assessments are not routinely published. However, environmental considerations in respect of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill were given due regard in line with the requirements of the Environment Act 2021.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of withdrawing the UK from the Aarhus Convention to enable damages to be sought from people who bring frivolous judicial reviews relating to road infrastructure projects.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government remains committed to protecting access to justice in environmental cases, while supporting the timely delivery of infrastructure projects under the Government’s Growth Mission.

The issue of cost caps relating to Judicial Review in the planning context was considered by Lord Banner in his independent review published in October 2024. He did not recommend any change to the default cost caps in Aarhus cases. Judges already have the power to vary costs caps upwards or downwards according to the particular circumstances in a case. The MoJ published a call for evidence on Lord Banner’s recommendations on 28 October 2024, alongside the publication of his report by MHCLG. The call for evidence closed on 30 December.

Some of Lord Banner’s recommendations have been taken into the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and will tighten the judicial review process to cut delays for major infrastructure projects and look to strike the right balance between improving efficiency and ensuring access to justice. The change will only allow one attempt at legal challenge, instead of three, for meritless claims and two for other claims. These changes will prevent meritless claims from holding up projects by exhausting the appeals process and will ensure legitimate legal challenges are heard promptly.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's report entitled Delivering economic growth and nature recovery: an independent review of Defra’s regulatory landscape, published on 2 April 2025, whether he directed Dan Corry to consider the Planning and Infrastructure Bill in that report.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Dan Corry’s review of Defra’s regulatory landscape focussed on developing recommendations to ensure that the Department is driving economic growth while protecting the environment. As mentioned in the introduction to the review, Dan Corry was aware of several other strands of work in government that were relevant, including the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, so sought to complement this work and avoid duplication.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Environmental Statements under section 20(2)(a) and (3) of the Environment Act 2021, what the evidential basis is for the conclusion that the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will not have the effect of reducing the level of environmental protection provided for by any existing environmental law.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill concerning development and nature recovery will not reduce overall levels of environmental protection.

Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) can only be put in place where the Secretary of State is satisfied the delivery of conservation measures are likely to outweigh the negative effects of development.

EDPs and the conservation measures they propose must be evidence-based and properly scrutinised before being put in place.

EDPs may include back-up measures that can be deployed if monitoring shows the environmental outcomes are not being achieved.

Natural England will be empowered and given the tools to deliver the conservation measures needed to secure the aims of the EDP.

The government is confident that this more strategic approach to the assessment of negative effects, and delivery of conservation measures, strikes the right balance and will result in better environmental outcomes that go further than simply offsetting harm as required under current legislation.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to commence the remaining provisions of the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government intends to commence the temporary possession provisions in the Neighbourhood Planning Act (NPA 2017).

To pave the way for this, we are taking forward a measure in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to amend the NPA 2017 temporary possession powers to disapply them to Transport and Works Act Orders, Development Consent Orders and Infrastructure Consent Orders. This will allow the NPA 2017 provisions to be commenced for taking temporary possession of land in respect of compulsory purchase orders made under regimes such as the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 without impacting the delivery of critical infrastructure.

Following Royal Assent of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and before commencing the amended NPA 2017 temporary possession power provisions, we will need to consult on regulations relating to the reinstatement of land subject to a period of temporary possession.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Annex 10 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Impact assessment, published in May 2025, in which financial year the 374,000 annual new additions in England will be first achieved.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 includes a new Standard Method for assessing housing needs that is aligned to our Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million new safe and decent homes in England by the end of this Parliament. The new Standard Method sets a local housing need for England of 370,408. Detail on how individual local planning authorities should plan to meet this updated housing need, including transitional arrangements, is set out in the Framework.

Paragraphs 85 to 87 in the summary Impact Assessment for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill (and paragraphs 44 to 45 of Annex 10) explain the housing trajectory used and the assumptions underpinning this.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Annex 7 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Impact assessment, published in May 2025, how many (a) consents, (b) permissions and (c) permits will be required to place an electric vehicle charge point on (i) a public highway and (ii) private land.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Whether a chargepoint requires planning permission, a Section 50 licence, or a permit depends on factors such as size, location, and context.

In general, home, workplace, and smaller low-powered installations in off-street parking areas qualify as permitted development and do not require a planning application. However, permission may still be needed for certain existing properties particularly where issues like height, siting, or proximity to listed buildings arise and for larger rapid charging hubs that include electrical cabinets.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduces a measure to replace Section 50s with permits which would make it more efficient and cost-effective for chargepoint operators to install infrastructure. Additionally, to streamline development we have expanded permitted development rights and have launched a call for evidence to explore further improvements.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the withdrawal of funding for the Level 7 Chartered Town Planner Apprenticeship on the recruitment of planning officers.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognise that Chartered Town Planner Apprenticeships (Level 7) are a valuable entry point into planning careers. However, the government has decided to prioritise levy funding for young people entering the labour market, who need skills and training to get started in their careers.

We will continue to fund Level 7 apprenticeships for those aged 16-21 when they start their apprenticeship; support apprentices already on a Level 7 apprenticeship through to completion; and ensure local authorities can still access the Level 7 apprenticeship route for those aged 22 and over until 1 January 2026.

Supporting local planning authorities to attract, retain and develop skilled planners is crucial to ensuring they provide a proactive, efficient planning service for local communities and that new developments are well designed and facilitate local growth.

The government appreciates that planning departments across the country are experiencing challenges with recruitment, retention, and skills gaps and that in many cases these issues are having a negative impact on service delivery.

At the Budget last year, the Chanceller announced a £46 million package of investment into the planning system as a one-year settlement for 2025-2026.

Our manifesto committed us to appointing 300 new planning officers into LPAs. We are on track to meet that commitment through two routes, namely graduate recruitment through the Pathways to Planning scheme run by the Local Government Association and mid-career recruitment through Public Practice.

On 27 February 2025, the government announced funding to support salaries and complement graduate bursaries. Further information can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 27 February 2025 (HCWS480).

On 25 February 2025, the draft Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, Deemed Applications, Requests and Site Visits) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2025 were agreed. These regulations increase planning fees for householder and other applications, with a view to providing much-needed additional resources for hard-pressed LPAs.

More broadly, the Department’s established Planning Capacity and Capability programme is also developing a wider programme of support, working with partners across the planning sector, to ensure that LPAs have the skills and capacity they need, both now and in the future, to modernise local plans and speed up decision making, including through innovative use of digital planning data and software.

Lastly, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes provisions that will allow LPAs to set planning fees or charges at a level that reflects the individual costs to the LPA to carry out the function for which it is imposed and to ensure that the income from planning fees or charges is applied towards the delivery of the planning function.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Annex 11 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Impact assessment, published in May 2025, what statistics will be collated on the unit planning fee charges for different types of application charged by local authorities under the localised regime.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In order to inform a national default fee schedule, the government will consult and undertake a national benchmarking exercise. We will also publish guidance on the costs that may be considered when calculating planning fees.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Annex 11 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Impact assessment, published in May 2025, what estimate her Department has made of the change in (a) prior approval and (b) householder planning fees under the localised regime.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In order to inform a national default fee schedule, the government will consult and undertake a national benchmarking exercise. We will also publish guidance on the costs that may be considered when calculating planning fees.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Annex 1 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Impact assessment, published in May 2025, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the timing of the update of the National Policy Statement for Waste Water on sewerage capacity.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will speed up and streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure.

As indicated in Annex 1 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill impact assessment, the Bill includes statutory timeframes for relevant National Policy Statements to be updated. Defra owns the National Policy Statement on wastewater, and it will be updated in line with this new statutory requirement. Once updated this will provide developers with heightened certainty enabling a smoother planning process.

The National Policy Statement sets out the process for development consent applications for major wastewater infrastructure. These major infrastructure projects fall within the definition of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) as defined in the Planning Act 2008.

Sewerage undertakers are required to prepare, publish and maintain Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs). DWMPs set out how the sewerage undertaker intends to improve their drainage and wastewater systems over the next 25 years, accounting for factors including growing population and changing environmental circumstances. These plans will help sewerage companies to fully assess the capacity of the drainage and wastewater network and develop collaborative solutions to current problems and future issues.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to p.61, Appendix 2 of the document entitled Annex 1: Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects reform of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Impact assessment, published on 6 May 2025, for what reason the dates listed in that document for the next updates to National Policy Statements differ to those on p.25 of the Plan for Change, CP 1210, published on December 2024.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The dates the hon. Member refers to relate to different aspects of our reforms to National Policy Statements (NPSs).

The ‘next summer’ date referred to in the government’s Plan for Change relates to the commitment made by the Chancellor on the 8 July last year to update relevant NPSs within the next 12 months.

The government also committed itself to legislate to ensure that all NPSs are updated at least every five years. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes a transitional period for older NPSs. To comply with the legislation, any NPS which is more than five years old at the time the Bill receives Royal Assent, will be required to be updated within two years.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help ensure that local (a) planning committees and (b) communities are consulted as part of the planning process.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill does not change the consultation rules on local planning applications.

Representations can be made by interested parties, and these are considered by the relevant decision maker – whether that be a local planning officer or planning committee.

On 28 May, the government published a technical consultation on reform of planning committees. It can be found on gov.uk here.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to recommendation 4 of the independent report entitled AI Opportunities Action Plan, published by his Department on 13 January 2025, whether he plans to introduce a streamlined planning approvals process for AI Growth Zones.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government is committed to enabling the timely delivery of AI infrastructure across the UK. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will support the streamlining of planning approvals for AI infrastructure and data centres, building on work led by MHCLG and reinforced by the inclusion of data centres in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects consenting approach.

The AI Opportunities Action Plan sets out measures to enable the growth of AI infrastructure, including addressing challenges such as planning and energy access. As part of this, the Government is engaging with local and regional authorities, and relevant regulators to support timely decision-making.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21626 on Renters' Rights Bill, for what reason the Impact Assessment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill was not published in a timely manner.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department aims to publish Impact Assessments in a timely manner, in line with the ‘Better Regulation Framework’ guidance, which states that an Impact Assessment ‘should be published alongside relevant legislation when it is laid before Parliament.’

In exceptional circumstances this may not be possible, for example, where the legislation is urgent, further work is needed following concerns expressed by the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) or where the assessment is with RPC for review. In those circumstances, the Department works with the RPC to ensure the Bill Impact Assessment and RPC opinion is published as soon as possible.

The Impact Assessment for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill was published 6 May 2025 ahead of the Bill’s Commons committee stage.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to improve the condition of Sites of Specific Scientific Interest.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

SSSIs continue to be one of the most effective tools for protecting and enhancing biodiversity and deliver a wide range of health and socio-economic benefits.

Defra is working with Natural England to improve the efficiency of SSSI monitoring and drive delivery of a prioritised programme of action to improve SSSI condition. This includes advising farmers on land management changes, working at a catchment-scale with partners to improve water quality and regulating fairly and proportionately to prevent harm and improve site condition.

In the autumn budget we also allocated £13 million to Protected Site Strategies which will develop and implement spatial restoration plans for priority sites. These strategies will put action in place to restore protected sites and manage the impact of environmental harm.

The Nature Restoration Fund in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will also allow us to take a more strategic approach to the restoration of protected sites and species, and deliver improved environmental outcomes.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards meeting their clean energy targets by 2030, and what assessment they have made of the impact of these targets on in high-energy-use sectors

Answered by Baroness Curran

We are making strong progress towards Clean Power 2030. Last month, the Prime Minister announced £300 million of investment to boost offshore wind supply chains, Ofgem approved major grid reforms to unlock investment and accelerate connections.

We have also introduced the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which will speed up the approval process for nationally significant infrastructure projects. These changes will help deliver major infrastructure projects, including wind, solar, and hydrogen, in this Parliament.

The National Energy System Operators independent analysis shows that a clean power system will protect families and business from volatile fossil fuel markets, and can be delivered without increasing costs to consumers and business.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether people living near (a) new and (b) certain upgraded network transmission infrastructure and who would otherwise be an eligible person under clause 22 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill but their (i) landlord and (ii) park home site owner pays for their electricity and therefore they do not have a direct relationship to an electricity supplier will be eligible for any financial benefit scheme; and whether that financial benefit will be in the form of (A) electricity bill discounts and (B) compensation.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We know that some eligible households do not have a direct relationship with an electricity supplier, so will not be able to receive a bill discount automatically. This includes households whose electricity is paid by their landlord or park home site owner. We want to ensure that these households benefit from hosting new electricity network transmission infrastructure and are putting measures in place to ensure that persons living in such properties can benefit. The exact delivery methods of financial benefit for these households are under consideration and will be subject to stakeholder consultation.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Office for Environmental Protection publication entitled OEP gives advice to Government on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, published on 1 May 2025.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government welcomes that the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) share our view that the Nature Restoration Fund has the potential to secure better outcomes for nature whilst also unlocking and accelerating necessary development.

We are giving careful consideration to the advice the OEP have provided on proposed changes to environmental law contained in Part 3 of the Bill.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, whether funds raised through the Nature Restoration Fund must be allocated to Environmental Delivery Plans (a) in the same local authority as the development or (b) within any specified geographical proximity to the development.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Each Environmental Delivery Plan (EDP) will address one or more specified environmental features, which will be either a protected species, or a protected aspect of a protected site.

Under an EDP, Natural England will be required to deliver conservation measures that contribute to an overall improvement to the environmental feature(s) specified.

When delivering conservation measures through an EDP, Natural England will look to deliver these in the area where development is taking place.

The Bill allows for those circumstances where it may be appropriate to deliver conservation measures aimed at the same environmental feature but at another site outside of where the development is taking place. For example, if Natural England deem that this may deliver a better outcome for a protected species to create new habitats or enhance existing habitats further afield.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to repeal any retained EU environmental regulations in the context of her proposed planning reforms.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill proposes targeted amendments to the Habitats Regulations, with Schedule 4 including changes necessary to enable the nature restoration fund to address environmental impacts from development in place of the Habitats Regulations.

The previous government secured powers to reform existing environmental assessment legislation, to create a new system of environmental outcomes reports in place of the Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment Regulations.

This government is considering how to utilise these powers as part of our wider efforts to deliver economic growth and secure better environmental outcomes.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on the UK’s target to protect at least 30 per cent of its land and sea for nature by 2030.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Departmernt published an Impact Assessment (IA) for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on 6 May 2025. It can be found here.

The IA received a ‘Green’ rating from the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC), indicating that it is ‘fit for purpose’.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they consulted the Office for Environmental Protection (1) before, and (2) after, the publication of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Whilst the department did not actively consult the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), the government welcomes that the OEP share our view that the Nature Restoration Fund has the potential to secure better outcomes for nature whilst also unlocking and accelerating necessary development.

We are giving careful consideration to the advice the OEP have provided on proposed changes to environmental law contained in Part 3 of the Bill.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the proposals in Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on delivering the target in the Environment Act 2021 to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill would introduce a new Nature Restoration Fund that would unlock and accelerate development while delivering overall benefits for nature through investment in strategic improvements for protected habitats and species.

The fund will support the preparation of Environmental Delivery Plans (EDP), which will only be put in place where the Secretary of State is satisfied that the delivery of the conservation measures the EDP sets out are likely to outweigh the negative effects of development. In doing so EDPs will support the government’s target to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030.

Found: Planning and Infrastructure Bill 2024-25: Progress of the bill

Wastewater Infrastructure and Environmental Protection in Planning Applications

Found: In addition, there is a measure in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill (which is currently being scrutinised

Found: Introducing the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to Parliament; c.

Found: Introducing the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to Parliament; c.

Found: The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will also provide the powers to accelerate the infrastructure and

Found: The plans tie in with wider reforms, including the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and will see ports

Found: is proceeding in parallel with our wider programme of planning reforms, including the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: As part of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, the government is also launching a new consultation

Found: This is on top of seismic planning reforms through the landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill to make

Found: This is alongside our landmark reforms to deliver 1.5 million homes, including the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: The announcement will build on measures introduced in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill where households

Found: to navigate and reduce the time required to get projects off the ground. 5.14 The Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: publishing a revised pro-growth National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), introducing the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Further to the introduction of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill this consultation seeks views on

Found: the bill discounts scheme for transmission infrastructure that was introduced in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: prime-minister-clears-path-to-get-britain-building (Accessed March 2025) 3 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-and-infrastructure-bill-impact-assessment

Found: Our Planning and Infrastructure Bill going through Parliament right now is a real game-changer.

Found: The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will also provide the powers to accelerate the infrastructure and

Found: exist or are likely to develop in future, in line with recent developments in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Vapes Bill • Employment Rights Bill • Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill • Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: -25, 36th Report, 2025 (Session 6) 5• Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill • Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Planning and Infrastructure Bill 51. as Great British Energy and place it on a statutory footing.

Found: Legislative Consent Memorandum: delegated powers exercisable within devolved competence in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: These were then included in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which is currently making its way

Found: l Working with the UK Government to reform the consenting process through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: reform and the National Planning Policy Framework (including legislation such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps have been taken to ensure that consultations with communities on Skye regarding the expansion of renewable energy projects are conducted in a transparent, inclusive and comprehensive manner.

Answered by Allan, Alasdair - Acting Minister for Climate Action

The Scottish Government has set out instructions for developers to follow regarding pre-application consultation in our Good Practice Guidance document, which is available online, alongside other guidance documents: https://www.gov.scot/policies/energy-infrastructure/energy-consents/.

In addition, the Scottish Government have been working with the UK Government on strengthening community consultation for electricity infrastructure consenting in Scotland as part of the UK Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill. The proposed reforms will make pre-application consultation for electricity infrastructure projects a statutory requirement. It will also introduce an Acceptance Stage where Scottish Ministers can decline to accept applications which have not fulfilled the necessary requirements, thereby increasing local input into project proposals.

Found: reform white paper (for England) and further changes are proposed in this area via the UK Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: provisions, with the Scottish Government “still to reach a position on consent” on others) Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: 1 LEGISLATIVE CONSENT MEMORANDUM Planning and Infrastructure Bill 1.

Found: 1 SUPPLEMENTARY LEGISLATIVE CONSENT MEMORANDUM (MEMORANDUM NO 2) Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: consider and report on the Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (No.2) on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Constitution Committee to consider and report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: Constitution Committee The Welsh Government’s Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: ................................................................... 3 Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Bill

Found: ................................................................... 4 Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Bill