Introduction
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. Such projects can include energy, transport, waste, wastewater or water infrastructure development. NSIPs can also include nationally significant business or commercial projects. In 2026 data centres were added to the list of commercial projects.
The Planning Act 2008 (the “Planning Act”) creates a separate planning route for NSIPs where, if the application is approved, consent is granted by the relevant Secretary of State as a Development Consent Order (DCO) and not the local authority.
Responsibility for accepting and examining the NSIP application rests with the Planning Inspectorate (PINs) on behalf of the Secretary of State.
Local authorities are identified as statutory consultees, or ‘host’ authorities in the NSIP process where the development is in the local authority area.
There is no longer any statutory requirement for applicants to engage or consult during the pre-application stage. However, government advice encourages the applicant to engage with relevant stakeholders, including local authorities.
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 three months
- a maximum of six months for the Examination
- a further three months for a recommendation to be provided to the Secretary of State by the Planning Inspectorate
- three months for the Secretary of State to make a decision.
Read more about the NSIP process on the government’s website.
Our role
The role of the local authorities as statutory consultees can be summed up in three ways:
- examining the applicant’s NSIP application;
- offering technical advice as part of the consultation process; and
- ensuring that necessary mitigations are secured where possible.
The Council is not the authority which determines an NSIP application and does 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, if the applicant holds public 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 about the NSIP process on the Planning Inspectorate's website.