The world of infrastructure and development has changed over the last 10 years and much of that is down to the Planning Act 2008. For the future, however, we face new and more complex challenges.

Copper has teamed up with Barton Willmore, Womble Bond Dickinson and Hannah Hickman, to work on identifying how the NSIP regime can continue to help us answer questions on integrated infrastructure, both today and in the future. We will be looking at how the consenting system has performed in the three key areas, and how we can apply any lessons learned beyond the current definition of infrastructure, towards housing, connectivity and regional growth.

The three key areas are:

  • Building stronger, more mature relationships with stakeholders and the public beyond consultation
  • Legal frameworks for delivering large-scale communities
  • Integrating NSIP regime with the Town and Country Planning regime

The questions we will ask are: is the NSIP process geared up for a collaborative and contested digital world? Can the regime help solve the complex problems we face around delivering housing, jobs, and connected places, or will we find that new approaches come from leftfield, whilst we are still arguing over the definition of associated development?

We are looking to draw on a wide range of expertise and insight from within and beyond the regime, leading up to workshops around the 10-year anniversary in November 2018 and publication of insights in 2019. If you are interested in being involved in this, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Copper’s Martin McCrink on martin.mccrink@copperconsultancy.com.

We have launched an industry-wide survey to find out how the infrastructure community rates the Planning Act and establish specific areas of interest. We are seeking input to ensure this study brings as much value as possible, not only to the industry but also to the country’s ability to attract outward investment and respond to its most pressing needs.
– Those who have engaged with the DCO regime established by the Planning Act 2008 should click here.
– Those who have not engaged with the DCO regime established by the Planning Act 2008 should click here.