Overview
What are NSIPs?
To be considered nationally significant, the development must meet the size and scale criteria set out in the Planning Act 2008.
NSIPs do not require planning permission from the local authority. The developer must make an application to the Planning Inspectorate for development consent. The Planning Inspectorate examines the application and makes a recommendation to the relevant Secretary of State. It is the Secretary of State who then makes the final decision, guided by National Policy Statements written by the government. These policy statements provide the planning policy framework for different types of NSIPs.
Development consent is often made in the form of a single statutory instrument known as a Development Consent Order.
Our role in NSIPs
Growth and Development team
We must be consulted on all NSIPs that affect Essex. Our Growth and Development team work collaboratively across all service areas of the council to ensure that the full impacts across Essex are considered. This includes impacts to our:
- economy
- environment
- health and wellbeing of communities
The team also work to ensure that all possible benefits to Essex are explored and maximised. Any comments we make must be considered before a Development Consent Order can be issued.
After the Development Consent Order has been issued, we are responsible for monitoring how it is implemented by the developer.
Our Nationally Significant Infrastructure (NSIP) Policy (PDF, 589.07 KB) lays out our position on NSIPs. The aim of this is to create consistent engagement in the development consent process to achieve our aims.
Our Aims and Guidance Document from Essex County Council as the Highway Authority (PDF, 589.81 KB) shows what we, as the Highways Authority, consider are necessary in support of any NSIP scheme which is submitted.
Planning Performance Agreement
Engagement on NSIPs is at the discretion of the County Council. Projects which come forward are varied, complex and time demanding. This means that significant resource will need to be allocated to each proposal on a case-by-case basis. It is within our Policy that we engage on NSIPs at cost neutral to the Council. Therefore, we require applicants to enter into a Planning Performance Agreement (PPA). This is an agreement between each scheme proposer and the Council which ensures we work at cost neutral.
A PPA can guide you through the whole planning process. As part of the PPA, we’ll make sure you know which policies to follow. We’ll also give you a single response, indicating our position across several areas such as:
- highways and transportation
- waste
- drainage
- flooding
Our model Planning Performance Agreement (DOCX, 63.64kB) outlines the offer. It also details fees for this service. It has a different charging structure to our pre-application advice services.
Councillors and officers
Individual councillors will not be consulted on the development process for NSIPs. However, they do have an important community engagement role and can raise local issues with officers.
Officers work closely with councillors to understand the views of the local community. They are responsible for carrying out the work of the council in accordance with national policy and guidance.
For more information, see our guidance on the role of Essex County Council in the NSIP development consent process (PDF,405.49 KB). This includes guidance for members of the local community who would like to engage in this process.