Highlights from this year’s Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects Forum
Earlier this month, Waterfront Conference Company held its eleventh annual Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects Forum (NSIPs) in London. The event attracted more than 280 delegates across two days and provided an opportunity for attendees to hear from over 30 industry leading speakers on all aspects of the Planning Act 2008 regime, and to network and share experiences.
The timing of Waterfront’s annual flagship event was especially interesting this year given the release of the government’s NSIP Action Plan just days before. The plan set out new considerations for infrastructure projects and how to navigate the process, as well as reforms to the process itself. You can read more here about the government’s NSIPs Action Plan.
The speakers ranged from government representatives and project promoters to local authorities and specialist consultants, who covered a wide range of topics from offshore wind to hydrogen, water, road and other transport schemes.
Minister Lee Rowley MP and Jenny Preece, from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, gave the opening address and provided important insight into the reforms, plans to speed up the process and timelines for new developments. The Planning Inspectorate also provided the latest advice and guidance for new applications, drawing from lessons learned about projects in 2022 and what can be expected from future decisions.
The Forum also provided key lessons for practitioners seeking to navigate the EIA process, given the proposed changes to Environmental Outcome Reports and the recent mandatory requirements for biodiversity net gain. Another key theme across both days was engaging stakeholders and communities throughout the process, with speakers providing insight on how to deliver impactful consultation.
Andrew Fraser-Urquhart KC from Francis Taylor Building discussed the recent increase in judicial reviews and explored the lessons that can be learnt from recent projects, including challenges to Norfolk Vanguard and the A38 Derby Junctions. It was concluded that while there did not appear to be a pattern to these judicial reviews, developers ought to be aware of the complicated nature of judicial reviews and pay particular attention to any vulnerabilities in their EIA approach.
BEIS, Ofgem and National Grid provided further important information for energy developers on plans to create a transmission and distribution network that unlocks greater capacity on the network.
As a record number of applications have been submitted in the first two months of this year, and with the impacts of changing policy and many National Policy Statements due to be released and consulted on, a number of key trends and topics are already emerging for discussion at the 2024 Forum.
The NSIPs Forum will be returning on 6-7 March 2024 and you can find out more and register your interest now.