National Infrastructure Planning Guidance Portal
Provides access to and information on the status of existing and newly published National Infrastructure Planning Guidance.
Applies to England and, in limited circumstances, to Wales and Scotland
National Infrastructure Planning Guidance Portal
This National Infrastructure Planning Guidance Portal enables quick and easy access to up-to-date National Infrastructure Planning Guidance. It is coordinated by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) as a central source for all users who wish to find guidance on all aspects of the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) process from pre-application through to post-consent changes, and a range of related matters.
Status of National Infrastructure Planning Guidance
National Infrastructure Planning Guidance
As of 24 July 2026, the following National Infrastructure Planning Guidance is in effect:
-
Planning Act 2008: Introduction to National Infrastructure Planning Guidance (July 2026) – provides an introduction to the NSIP process, sets out the role and scope of the National Infrastructure Planning Guidance
-
Planning Act 2008: Guidance on preparing an application – Part 1: Pre-application steps (July 2026) – provides guidance on the pre-application stage for Development Consent Order (DCO) applications
-
Planning Act 2008: Guidance on preparing an application – Part 2: Application contents (July 2026) – provides guidance on the pre-application stage for DCO applications
-
Planning Act 2008: Guidance on preparing an application – Part 3: Contents of a draft Development Content Order (July 2026) – provides guidance on the pre-application stage for DCO applications
-
Planning Act 2008: Guidance on the acceptance stage of a Development Consent Order application (July 2026) – provides guidance on the acceptance stage for DCO applications
-
Planning Act 2008: Guidance on the pre-examination stage of an application (July 2026) – provides guidance on the pre-examination stage for accepted DCO applications
-
Planning Act 2008: Guidance on the examination stage of an application (July 2026) – provides guidance on the examination stage for accepted DCO applications
-
Planning Act 2008: Guidance on the decision-making stage of an application (July 2026) – provides guidance on the decision-making stage for accepted DCO applications
-
Planning Act 2008: Guidance on powers to direct a project into or out of the NSIP regime (July 2026) – provides guidance on powers to direct a project into or out of the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime
-
Planning Act 2008: Infrastructure Planning (Fees) Regulations 2010 - cost recovery by The Planning Inspectorate and Public Bodies (July 2026) – provides guidance on cost recovery by the Planning Inspectorate and public authorities and updated to reflect changes made through the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025
-
Planning Act 2008: Infrastructure Planning (Fees) Regulations 2010 (May 2019) – provides guidance on the fees payable for the costs of processing an application for a Development Consent Order under the Planning Act 2008
-
Planning Act 2008: Fast-Track process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (April 2024) – provides guidance on the fast-track process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects
-
Planning Act 2008: procedures for the compulsory acquisition of land (September 2013) – provides guidance to assist those applying to seek authorisation for the compulsory acquisition of land or rights over land
-
Planning Act 2008: awards of costs – examinations of applications for development consent orders (July 2013) – provides guidance on the awards of costs in relation to the examination of applications for orders granting development consent
-
Planning Act 2008: changes to Development Consent Orders (December 2015) – provides guidance on the procedures for making a change to a Development Consent Order for nationally significant infrastructure projects
-
Planning Act 2008: Guidance on the process for carrying out a review of existing National Policy Statement (June 2026) – provides guidance on the National Policy Statement review and amendment process
Where relevant, proposed revision dates are outlined below:
| Existing National Infrastructure Planning Guidance to be updated | Expected review date |
|---|---|
| Planning Act 2008: Fast-Track process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (April 2024) | 2027 |
| Planning Act 2008: awards of costs - examinations of applications for development consent orders (July 2013) | 2026 |
| Planning Act 2008: changes to Development Consent Orders (December 2015) | 2027 |
| Planning Act 2008: procedures for the compulsory acquisition of land (September 2013) | 2027 |
Transitional arrangements
Where guidance is revised during the lifecycle of a DCO application, applicants should refer to each specific guidance section for details of any transitional arrangements in place that deal with this.
Keep up to date
To register for a notification of when new National Infrastructure Planning Guidance is published, please click on the “Get emails about this page” button at the top of this page.
Previous National Infrastructure Planning Guidance
As of 24 July 2026, the following guidance has been superseded and withdrawn:
-
Introduction to National Infrastructure Planning Guidance (April 2024) – sets out the role and scope of the National Infrastructure Planning Guidance and how it benefits all users of the system
-
Planning Act 2008: Pre-application stage for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (April 2024) – provides guidance on the pre-application stage for NSIPs
-
Planning Act 2008: Content of a Development Consent Order for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (April 2024) – provides guidance on the content of Development Consent Orders (DCO) for NSIPs
-
Planning Act 2008: Acceptance stage for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (April 2024) – provides guidance on the acceptance stage for DCO applications
-
Planning Act 2008: Pre-examination stage for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (April 2024) – provides guidance on the pre-examination stage for accepted DCO applications
-
Planning Act 2008: Examination stage for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (April 2024) – provides guidance on the examination stage for accepted DCO applications
-
Planning Act 2008: Infrastructure Planning (Fees) Regulations 2010 - cost recovery by The Planning Inspectorate and Public Bodies (June 2026) – provides guidance on the provisions enabling the charging of fees by the Planning Inspectorate for pre-application services and by prescribed public authorities for relevant services
Updates to this page
-
The guidance has been updated to align with changes laid in Parliament, which have now come into force.
-
Updated National Infrastructure Planning Guidance Portal.
-
Added guidance on Pre-application; Fast-track; Content of a Development Consent Order; Acceptance; Pre-examination; and Examination.
-
First published.