Guidance

National Infrastructure Planning Reform: Innovation and Capacity Fund (Round 1)

An Innovation and Capacity Fund for local authorities working on planning applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

Applies to England

Documents

Expression of interest application form

Details

Applications closed on 8 April 2022.

Round 2 was launched on 25 July 2023.

As outlined in the National Infrastructure Strategy, the government has an ambition to speed up the consenting for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP). We are looking for ways to reform the NSIP process in line with the government’s wider ambitions for better, faster and greener infrastructure delivery and our mission for levelling up.

To support one of the areas we know is most affected by capacity and capability shortages in the system, we are inviting local authorities (or groups of local authorities working in partnership) to consider innovative ways in which their role in the NSIP system can be improved or done differently.

Local authorities who are working on NSIPs are eligible to bid for funding up to £100,000 via an Expression of Interest.  

All applications will be reviewed, and shortlisted candidates will be invited to a presentation to explain their proposal in more detail.  

Published 4 March 2022
Last updated 22 March 2022 + show all updates
  1. Added questions 16 to 27 to the frequently asked questions.

  2. First published.