The Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) is a new body which will decide on planning applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects including reservoirs and sewage treatment works. It was setup to overcome the debacle over planning for projects like Heathrow Terminal 5. It is designed to simplify and speed up to the planning process to about 24 months.
The blog was recently in discussion with Sir Michael Pitt the Chairman of the IPC. He said: “its important for everyone to recognise that the new planning system introduced by the 2008 planning act is utterly different to the old process”. There is a much greater emphasis on very high quality pre-application work and effective consultation with communities. The IPC will expect applicants to have thoroughly investigated alternatives and tailored their consultation to the needs of the population in the affected area.
The Local Authorities still have an important role on advising on the pre application consultation and whether it has been effective. The IPC is terrified of being subject to Judicial Review, consequently in the first few years it will be very cautious in its approach and not take risks with the process.
This has significant implications for promoters of major projects. The IPC will not advise on whether it thinks the consultation process undertaken by the promoter has been acceptable until the application is formally received. This may be 18 months after consultation starts. Sir Michael Pitt said: “Promoters are typically major companies with significant resources and professional staff. As a consequence the IPC expects them to recognise if their consultation process has been inadequate”. There is consequently the risk of having to start again if the initial consultation is not adequate which will both delay major schemes and leave the community in an extended period of uncertainty.
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