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NIPA Members Survey

1.How would you describe your current role / interest in the NSIP process?
Demand for Planning Inspectorate services

The Planning Inspectorate handles all Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) applications. It provides a pre-application advice service and manages the examination of all NSIPs. The Inspectorate also handles a range of other Planning and related case work including Development Plan examinations; Town and Country Planning appeals; and Highways Act, Transport and Works Act and Harbours Act applications, in which infrastructure projects may be involved.

We would like members' views on the potential demand for Planning Inspectorate services relating to infrastructure projects in the foreseeable future (up to 36 months). As members will be aware, the Planning Inspectorate has to plan its national infrastructure resources according to likely submission dates. Therefore, our questions aim to understand factors affecting these dates. We recognise the current investment uncertainty across the economy, so we are looking for broad indications of changes to need (increase or decrease) and indicative timescales across sectors rather than for specifics projects.

All information on any specifics will be treated confidentially, and will be amalgamated with other responses and anonymised. For specific projects, please continue to contact the Inspectorate directly.


2.What do you consider to be the main reasons that determine whether an NSIP can keep to its submission timetable? (These could be reasons that relate to or are external to the NSIP application process)
3.Based on your knowledge, are there any national infrastructure sectors that are seeing delays in project investment? If so and where possible, please indicate the approximate timescale for delays and factors affecting investment programmes.
4.Based on your knowledge are there any national infrastructure sectors that will continue to invest in, or bring forward investment in projects? If so and where possible, please indicate any factors influencing this.
5.Based on your knowledge, are there any emerging infrastructure-related sectors with projects that may wish to use the NSIP, TWA or any other consenting process but do not currently meet existing thresholds or other criteria to qualify? What are the influencing factors here (e.g. technology maturity, viability)?
6.Which other Planning Inspectorate services in your view are needed to support infrastructure planning in the coming months, and do you have any comments on these services?
Digital Working Practices 

We are aware that the Planning Inspectorate, supported by MHCLG, continues to pilot digital working measures within the context of existing legal frameworks and working within public health guidelines to address short term challenges.

Drawing on members' experiences of digital working[1], we would like to provide our insights on digital ways of working that could assist Government in the medium to long term to adapt the way we consent national infrastructure projects. 

[1] Digital working refers in this instance to any process or practice that involves the use of digital technology. It can relate to any stage of the development consent process and use by any party in the process.
7.Drawing on both your experience of the current Covid-19 response to national infrastructure and your overall experience of the NSIP process, which aspects of digital working do you think work well at present and why? Please distinguish between existing and recently introduced measures where possible.

8.Drawing on both your experience of the current Covid-19 response to national infrastructure and your overall experience of the NSIP process, which aspects of digital working do you think require improvement and why? Please distinguish between existing and recently introduced measures where possible.
9.Are there any good practice examples of digital working that you think could be applied to / adapted to the NSIP process and / or preparation of NSIP applications? Please provide details.
10.Are there particular outcomes / benefits that you consider digital working could assist in achieving, and any steps that could be taken towards these outcomes / benefits?
11.Are there any specific risks / challenges from digital working that the Planning Inspectorate / Government should be mindful of and suggestions for how could these be overcome?
National Policy Statements

Finally, we are seeking members' views and insights on National Policy Statements, and wider policy challenges and opportunities to support the UK economy within public health guidelines.

We want to understand from members where there might be interventions Government can make to address current uncertainties, blockages and opportunities using the range of policy levers in its control.
12.Which of the following NSIP sectors do you consider need policy attention to overcome challenges and support investment as part of any economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic? (tick as many as you like)
13.Please choose a National Policy Statement or Sector from the list below and use Q14 to provide your insight on policy issues or opportunities, and potential Government interventions, for example further guidance or advice, working groups, Ministerial Directions, White Papers or Written Ministerial Statements.
14.Please provide your insights on policy issues or opportunities, and potential Government interventions for the National Policy Statement or Sector chosen in Q13. If you wish to provide comments on additional NPSs or Sectors, please use the free text box in Q16.
15.Are there any national policy statements that you consider would benefit from alterations under section 6 of the Planning Act, i.e. a review either in whole or in part? If so, what do you consider to be the significant change in circumstance for this and are there any particular policies you consider may need attention? 
16.Do you have any other comments or observations on National Policy Statements or policy frameworks for infrastructure projects?
NIPA Membership
17.Are you a NIPA Member?
18.If not, would you be happy to be contacted about becoming a NIPA member?
If so, please provide an email address that you would be happy for us to contact you on
Current Progress,
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