The evolving landscape of infrastructure planning and delivery
This year’s Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) Forum 2025 brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and practitioners across two days of insightful panels and discussions. One key theme emerged: the need for greater efficiency, flexibility, and collaboration in delivering NSIPs.
Refining the DCO process: striking a balance between rigour and flexibility
First, one of the biggest takeaways was the need for a more streamlined and proportionate DCO process. Speakers from Natural England, the Environment Agency, and Historic England emphasised the importance of Preliminary Environmental Information Reports (PEIR) being focused, evidence-driven, and not overly expansive. The industry has become too comfortable with producing lengthy Environmental Statements, which risks slowing down decision-making.
A key discussion point was how renewable projects could ‘jump the queue’ in the statutory consultee engagement process. Early engagement was highlighted as critical – by front-loading key issues during pre-application, developers can avoid unnecessary delays later.
However, it was also acknowledged that statutory bodies often get drawn into local disputes, making it difficult to remain impartial. Better co-ordination between applicants, stakeholders, and regulators is essential in ensuring the process remains efficient, transparent, and fair.
The role of spatial planning in infrastructure delivery
Spatial planning was another key topic. A study by LDA Design found that over 70,000 acres of land will be needed to support the UK’s renewable energy ambitions. However, planning guidance is evolving – developers will increasingly be expected to demonstrate how their projects deliver multiple beneficial outcomes beyond their primary purpose, ensuring that national-scale infrastructure also delivers value at the local level.
Some key points:
- Biodiversity improvements – The government is set to publish an updated Environmental Improvement Plan, outlining where biodiversity gains can be achieved.
- Cross-project collaboration – The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) is expected to push developers towards more integrated approaches that extend beyond their project’s red-line boundary.
- Stronger alignment with local plans – With updates to Planning Practice Guidance, Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) will be encouraged to take a more proactive approach to spatial planning, ensuring infrastructure is aligned with wider regional priorities.
This discussion was particularly timely, as on the second day of the Forum the government announced that a decision on Gatwick’s second runway will be made in October 2025.
Managing land acquisition: best practice for developers
It cannot be said enough that effective landowner engagement is critical for project success, and it was clear from discussions that early and continuous communication is key. Delays in securing land access can significantly impact project timelines, and a failure to address concerns early can create a vacuum, potentially leading to misinformation being disseminated by opposition groups.
Developers were encouraged to adopt a more relationship-driven approach rather than a purely transactional one. Building a ‘bank of goodwill’ with landowners from the outset fosters trust and co-operation, which can be instrumental in securing agreements and avoiding delays. However, it is equally important to strike a balance – ensuring that private landowner rights are respected while clearly demonstrating the public benefits of the project.
Examining the examination process: efficiency vs. repetition
Navigating the DCO examination stage remains a major challenge for developers. Speakers emphasised the importance of maintaining strong stakeholder relationships, ensuring a structured team approach, and being strategic in responding to key issues.
A recurring theme was the need for greater efficiency in examinations:
- Focused hearing agendas – Should the industry keep revisiting the same principles at every examination? For example, should the role of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) need to be debated in every solar project application? Greater consistency would help streamline the process.
- Proactive issue resolution – Identifying and addressing contentious points before formal hearings begin.
One of the standout quotes from the conference was: “Proper preparation prevents poor performance.”
Community benefits: mandatory framework needed?
One of the most interesting discussions centred on community benefits. While these sit outside the planning system, there was a strong consensus that the process needs to be streamlined and potentially made mandatory.
Some developers are seen as taking liberties with community benefit offerings.
There needs to be clearer accountability to ensure benefits are distributed fairly.
Community funds could be linked to regulatory assessments or capacity auctions, rather than relying on voluntary contributions.
Luton Rising’s ‘Green Controlled Growth Framework’ was showcased as a leading example of how infrastructure projects can strive to integrate environmental and community considerations. This industry-first initiative aims to establish limits on carbon emissions, noise, road traffic, and air quality, addressing some of the local communities’ key concerns.
Beyond its environmental commitments, Luton Airport is recognised as one of the most socially impactful airports, having contributed £500 million to the local community over the past 25+ years. A standout feature of its approach is a £1 per passenger contribution to a dedicated community fund, directly supporting local initiatives.
Addressing supply chain constraints and ensuring buildability from the start
One of the critical challenges discussed was the growing pressure on supply chains, particularly for essential components like transformers, which now have lead-in times of up to five years due to high global demand from regions such as Ukraine and India. In areas with limited local construction capacity, such as Lincolnshire, concerns were also raised about worker availability and temporary housing for labourers during project delivery.
To mitigate these risks and prevent delays, speakers emphasised the need to bring construction teams into the project team much earlier – ideally at the pre-application stage. Too often, projects progress through the Development Consent Order (DCO) process without fully considering whether they are feasible to construct under real-world supply chain and procurement conditions. By integrating procurement, finance, and construction planning from the outset, developers can identify risks early, avoid costly redesigns, and ensure projects are not just consentable but also deliverable. At Copper we are already helping our clients navigate these challenges and you can find out more about the services our Construction Practice offers here.
Adopting a ‘cradle-to-grave’ approach – where construction viability is assessed alongside planning and consenting – will help streamline project timelines and reduce uncertainty. With increasing competition for materials, labour, and grid connections, ensuring buildability before a project reaches the examination stage is becoming more important than ever.
Overcoming grid connection bottlenecks
As with most conferences, the urgent need for grid reform was once again a major theme. With electricity demand set to double by 2050, the UK must build twice as much transmission infrastructure by 2030 as in the past decade. However, grid constraints continue to stifle project delivery.
To secure a grid connection under new reforms, projects must now:
- Demonstrate land rights and readiness.
- Show alignment with national energy targets.
Projects failing to meet these criteria risk being de-prioritised in the queue. While this approach is expected to reduce speculative applications and improve investor confidence, it remains to be seen how flexible and fair the new system will be.
Final thoughts
The NSIP Forum 2025 highlighted the urgent need for a more efficient, flexible, and coordinated approach to infrastructure planning. Key priorities include streamlining the DCO process, embedding spatial planning and biodiversity goals, ensuring community benefits are fair and accountable, and tackling grid connection and supply chain challenges.
With the government targeting 150 major infrastructure decisions in this Parliament, the pressure is on to ensure the system is fit for purpose. The question now is: how quickly can we turn these discussions into actions?