The Infrastructure Planning (Changes to, and Revocation of, Development Consent Orders) (Amendment) Regulations 2015

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Infrastructure Planning (Changes to, and Revocation of, Development Consent Orders) Regulations 2011 (“the 2011 Regulations”). The 2011 Regulations set out procedural provisions in respect of applications under Schedule 6 of the Planning Act 2008 to change, or revoke, an order granting development consent (“development consent orders”) for a nationally significant infrastructure project.

The main changes to the 2011 Regulations in respect of applications for a change, which is not material, to a development consent order are:

• the minimum scale requirement for plans that show offshore matters is removed; and

• the obligation to publicise, and consult on, an application is placed on an applicant rather than on the Secretary of State.

The main changes to the 2011 Regulations in respect of applications for a change to, or revocation of a development consent order are:

• the requirement, in respect of a proposed application, to consult every person that was consulted about the original application for a development consent order is replaced with a required to consult each person who may be directly affected by the changes proposed;

• the requirement to prepare a statement of community consultation and to consult the local community in accordance with that statement is removed;

• the minimum scale requirement for plans that show offshore matters is removed;

• the Secretary of State is given the power to decide not to hold an examination in respect of an application, and procedural provisions in respect of how such a decision is to be taken are set out; and

• prescribed time limits in respect of procedural stages of an application are reduced. The Examining body has 3 months to complete its examination of an application (where one takes place), and 2 months to make a written report to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State has 2 months within which to make a decision on an application.

An impact assessment has been prepared in respect of these regulations and is available alongside the instrument on the website www.legislation.gov.uk. Copies of the assessment have been placed in the Library of each House of Parliament, and copies may be obtained from the Department for Communities and Local Government, Planning: Infrastructure and Environment Division, Fry Building, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.