Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects: Examples of documents produced in the Planning Act 2008 process
This advice gives examples of what the Planning Inspectorate considers to be helpful examples of documentation produced in the Planning Act 2008 process.
Applies to England and Wales
Example documents
Inclusion of a document in this advice does not mean that the Planning Inspectorate agrees with the evidence presented in the document. It is an indication that the style, format and/ or approach used benefitted the process. For each document the Planning Inspectorate has stated what is good about the example document, and where relevant what could be improved.
Example documents will be added to the list when suitable examples are identified.
We welcome comments and suggestions about potential documents to be included in this list via email to NIEnquiries@planninginspectorate.gov.uk.
List of example documents
Document type: Guide to the application
Project: Richborough Connection Project
Submitted by: National Grid
What is good about this example?
This Guide to the Application (PDF, 82KB) acted as a ‘living document’, capturing all updates and revisions to the application documents and any new documents submitted to the examination by the applicant. It was proactively updated by the applicant following each deadline in the examination timetable.
In conjunction with the Planning Inspectorate’s Examination Library, the applicant’s production and maintenance of this document gave the Examining Authority (ExA) and interested parties’ certainty about document versioning. It also enabled interested parties to check whether their representations were being made based on the latest iteration of the document submitted to the examination.
It assisted the ExA in the reporting period, establishing from the applicant’s point of view a comprehensive record of the ‘final application’. In the same context, it also made clear which versions of documents the applicant proposed to be certified in the recommended draft Development Consent Order.
The document is helpfully structured because it:
- captures both the Planning Inspectorate’s Examination Library reference and the applicant’s corresponding localised document reference
- provides clear binary colour-coding to establish the status of each application document
- maintains the structure of the application as submitted, aiding navigability
What could be improved in this example?
This document could have been further improved by:
- providing hyperlinks to each document on the Planning Inspectorate’s website
Document type: Consultation report
Project: Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm
Submitted by: Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm Ltd
What is good about this example?
This Consultation Report (PDF, 6MB) is clear and easy to navigate with useful process diagram near the start of the report.
Document type: Consultation report
Project: Dogger Bank Creyke Beck
Submitted by: Forewind
What is good about this example?
This Consultation Report (PDF, 4MB) is well-structured as it clearly separates non-statutory and statutory consultation exercises undertaken as well as consultation exercises required under the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations.
It also includes a ‘Compliance Checklist’ which acts as a useful tool when reviewing documents during the acceptance stage.
Tables included within the report clearly identify the requirements at acceptance which, again, assists when reviewing an application.
Document type: Adequacy of consultation representation
Project: Rampion Offshore Wind Farm
Submitted by: Brighton and Hove Council
What is good about this example?
This Adequacy of Consultation Representation (PDF, 1.9MB) is concise but also comprehensive, and gives clear justifications as to why in the opinion of the local authority the consultation was adequate.
Document type: Local impact report
Project: North London (Electricity Line) Reinforcement
Submitted by: Greater London Authority
What is good about this example?
This Local Impact Report (PDF, 865KB) is particularly useful as it takes a strategic scale approach to the identification of impacts from a linear scheme extending over a number of local authority areas and ensures that effects on services such as highways and transport are integrated.
Document type: Local impact report
Project: East Anglia ONE Offshore Wind Farm
Submitted by: Suffolk County Council, Mid Suffolk District Council and Suffolk Coastal District Council
What is good about this example?
This Local Impact Report (PDF, 2.4MB) provides a comprehensive early assessment of all the main impacts that the Examining Authority (ExA) had identified. It sets out the various development plans (including the status and relevant policies of each) and then gives a clear assessment of impacts under different areas with a conclusion on each. It also explains how the draft Development Consent Order or associated documents could be improved.
It complies with the relevant government guidance and the Planning Inspectorate’s Advice for local authorities, specifically by remaining objective and not drawing conclusions on the acceptability of the proposed development. It remains a technical assessment of an advisory nature to support the ExA.
It is also a good example of local authorities working together.
Document type: Statement of common ground
Project: Rampion Offshore Wind Farm
Submitted by: E.ON Climate and Renewables UK Rampion Offshore Wind Farm Limited and South Downs National Park Authority
What is good about this example?
This Statement of Common Ground (PDF, 416KB) is concise but still provides enough information to understand the position.
It usefully covers matters not agreed (or ‘uncommon ground’) and cross-references these matters to the Local Impact Report to avoid duplication.
Document type: Statement of common ground
Project: Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm
Submitted by: DONG Energy Walney Extension (UK) Limited and Natural England (update)
What is good about this example?
This Statement of Common Ground (PDF, 1.8MB) focused clearly on issues that were unresolved and tracked the progress towards resolution. This was a very useful tool for the parties involved and kept the Examining Authority up to date on the latest progress and future plan at each deadline in the examination timetable.
What could be improved in this example?
These documents could have been further improved by cross-referencing to relevant documents in order to keep their overall size shorter.
Document type: Statement of commonality
Project: Richborough Connection Project
Submitted by: National Grid
What is good about this example?
The Statement of Commonality (PDF, 706KB) was a ‘living’ document during the examination stage.
The initial version was submitted (at examination deadline 2) in response to the Examining Authority’s (ExA) request for the applicant to provide a table showing commonality on specific points between statements of common ground (SoCGs). The initial version was then updated several times during the examination at appropriate deadlines, to show the updated position on the specific points.
The clear and consistent structure of both the individual SoCGs, and the Statement of Commonality document, assisted the ExA (and other parties) by providing an accessible overview of the current position between the applicant and relevant parties. It also assisted in highlighting areas of difference between parties.
The document was helpfully structured in the following manner:
- section 2 detailed the structure of each SoCG document and provided an up-to-date list of SoCGs (for each examination deadline)
- section 3 provided an update on the status of each SoCG
- section 4 set out the commonality between SoCGs and a summary of the principal matters outstanding
- section 4.2 provided a summary on specific areas where matters were identified as being ‘subject to ongoing discussion’ or ‘not agreed’
Document type: Response to written questions
Project: Rampion Offshore Wind Farm
Submitted by: Natural England
What is good about this example?
This Responses to Written Questions document (PDF, 647KB) helpfully set out in a table format with the question and their response next to each other.
Document type: Written representation
Project: Burbo Bank Extension Offshore Wind Farm
Submitted by: Mersey Docks and Harbour Company
What is good about this example?
This Written Representation (PDF, 1.4MB) sets context, is reasoned and sets out mitigations (and reasons).
Document type: Design approach to site specific infrastructure
Project: Hinkley Point C Connection Project
Submitted by: National Grid
What is good about this example?
The Development Consent Order (DCO) for the Hinkley Point C Connection Project (HPCC) includes a requirement which states that post-consent approval schemes for specific infrastructure must be produced having regard to the Design Approach to Site Specific Infrastructure (DASSI) (PDF, 60MB), unless otherwise agreed by the relevant planning authority.
The DASSI supplements the HPCC Design and Access Statement providing design principles for which detailed design proposals would be prepared for post-consent discharge of DCO requirements.
It is considered good practice because it:
- defines the landscape context and receptors
- explains the operational processes of the infrastructure
- sets out rationale for the siting and design of the site-specific infrastructure
- sets out an overall vision
- sets out design principles in terms of massing, scale, materials and textures, and design style
- is highly illustrated giving examples (not necessarily to be emulated, but aspirational examples of design innovation)
- analyses the scope for variation in developing detailed design
- summarises the DCO requirements and approval processes
Document type: Technical guide for solar power generation, storage, maintenance and decommissioning
Project: Little Crow Solar Park
Submitted by: INRG Solar (Little Crow) Ltd
What is good about this example?
This Technical Guide (PDF, 8.9MB) is helpful in assisting with the understanding of how the solar generating station and battery energy storage system at Little Crow Solar Park would operate and interact with the local electricity network.
It provides a plain English explanation which covers:
- technical terminology
- how solar panels produce electricity
- the evolution of this generating technology and what that means for panel output
- the expected electricity generating profile for a solar generating station
- how the generated electricity reaches the electricity distribution network
- the operation of the battery storage system, maintenance requirements and decommissioning