IPC APPLICATION

Infrastructure Planning Commission(IPC)
The Infrastructure Planning Commission is the independent body that decides applications for nationally significant infrastructure projects.

These are the large projects that support the economy and vital public services, including railways, large wind farms, power stations, reservoirs, harbours, airports and sewage treatment works.

On Thursday 8th July 2010 Able UK Limited commenced the first phase of informal consultation prior (in quarter three 2011) to submitting an application to the IPC covering the proposed Marine Energy Park (including c, 1,630m of new quay).

The role of the IPC:

• To simplify the planning process – eight former development consent regimes for NSIPs have been replaced by a single unified regime.
• Be fairer– there will be better opportunities for all to be heard through the new process.
• Apply independent professional and technical judgement.
• Reduce the time taken for decisions on major applications – down from 100 weeks to less than a year.
• Cut the costs of delivering national infrastructure by £300m annually.

Message from the Chair of the IPC
In the Coalition Agreement, the Government confirmed its commitment to an efficient and democratically accountable fast-track process for major infrastructure projects.

The Government aims to bring forward legislation next year to replace the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC), introducing a revised structure within Government, which will put the fairer, faster decision making that national infrastructure planning requires, on a democratic footing.

Ministers in the Government Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) aim to make provision for new legislation in a Decentralisation and Localism Bill. This will be introduced around the end of this year, and subject to the will of Parliament, become law sometime in 2011.

The expertise, processes and special character of the IPC will be retained in the creation of a Major Infrastructure Unit as part of a revised CLG structure that includes the Planning Inspectorate. Recommendations on nationally significant infrastructure projects will be made to the relevant Secretary of State for final decisions.

Ministers want to push ahead with these changes; most will need primary legislation and time to implement.
We recognise that clarity and certainty is needed for developers to underpin their commercial investment decisions. Therefore, I would like to reassure developers who are working towards the submission of an application to the IPC, that in the meantime, the existing process continues and the examination of applications will not be delayed due to the anticipated changes.

I would also like to reassure the public that the improved opportunities to have your say on proposals will not be diminished in any way. The changes planned by Government aim to increase the level of democratic accountability in the new process and the IPC remains committed to ensuring that the benefits of planning reform are realised by all parties, including local communities.

We will work flexibly with Government to ensure a seamless changeover to the new arrangements.
With 42 proposals currently in our programme , representing a potential capital investment of many billions of pounds, we recognise that ensuring the effective implementation of the more efficient process for deciding major infrastructure proposals has major implications for the future of the UK and everyone’s quality of life.

We also recognise that it is our responsibility to deliver the improved process, enabling faster, fairer decisions.
I am delighted, therefore, to reaffirm today, our full commitment to meeting our delivery obligations and to continuing our work with developers, stakeholders and communities. We have a big job to do and we are unwavering in our determination to do it well.
Sir Michael Pitt
Chair IPC