Nationally significant infrastructure projects in the transport sector
Updated 16 April 2020
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Nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) in the transport sector include:
- new roads which are to form part of the strategic road network (motorways and trunk roads) operated by Highways England (above certain thresholds)
- new railway lines in England which are to be operated by Network Rail (above certain thresholds)
- new rail freight interchanges over 60 hectares in area in England
- new large scale harbours in England or Wales
- new airports in England capable of handling at least 10 million passengers per year
Under the Planning Act 2008 (as amended) a developer intending to construct an NSIP must obtain ‘development consent’. The National Infrastructure Directorate of the Planning Inspectorate receives and examines applications for development consent.
In the case of transport NSIPs, after examining an application the Planning Inspectorate makes a report and recommendation on the project to the Secretary of State for Transport. The Secretary of State for Transport then decides whether to grant or refuse development consent. If the decision is to give consent for a project to go ahead, the Secretary of State for Transport will make a ‘development consent order’. This contains the consent and other authorisations (for example, to purchase land compulsorily) that the developer needs to construct and operate the project.
Select the ‘transport’ button on the Planning Inspectorate National Infrastructure Planning website to see applications and the Secretary of State for Transport’s decisions on applications.