Open call for evidence

Judicial Review and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects

From:: Ministry of Justice
Published: 28 October 2024

Call for evidence description

The Nationally Significant Infrastructure Planning (NSIP) regime was established through the Planning Act 2008. It is a streamlined decision-making process by which major infrastructure projects of specified categories secure planning approval, in the form of a development consent order (DCO), from the relevant Secretary of State rather than the local planning authority.

In early 2024, the previous government appointed Lord Banner KC to lead an independent review (‘the review’) into the causes of legal challenges brought against the NSIP regime and to explore the scope and options for improving existing processes. The review ran from 12 February to 27 May 2024. Its report, which was published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government today, sets out a number of potential options for reform which the review suggests could help to reduce delays arising from legal challenges against DCO decisions.

This call for evidence is seeking views on the recommendations put forward by the review and additional proposals that could help to reduce delays to nationally significant infrastructure projects.

For more information on each of the recommendations and the review’s analysis, respondents can read the full report on GOV.UK.

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