Copilot Summary: Planning and Infrastructure Bill

The following is a Copilot generated summary of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill out of interest in the technology and and what the Bill contains. I have not yet proofed the AI output so if you are stumbling on to this i recommend performing your own review of the original Bill located here: Planning and Infrastructure Bill – Parliamentary Bills – UK Parliament

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill addresses various aspects of infrastructure, town and country planning, and environmental protection. Here’s a brief summary:

Key Provisions:

Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects: This section covers the review of national policy statements, parliamentary requirements, and the power to disapply the requirement for development consent. It also includes applications for development consent, consultations, legal challenges, and specific provisions for electricity infrastructure and transport infrastructure.
Electricity Infrastructure: This includes connections to the electricity transmission and distribution systems, managing connections, consents for generating stations and overhead lines, environmental impact assessments, and consumer benefits for homes near electricity projects.
Transport Infrastructure: Amendments to the Highways Act 1980 and the Transport and Works Act 1992, including fees for certain services, powers of strategic highways companies, and procedures for consultations and decisions.
Planning Decisions: This part focuses on fees for planning applications, training for local planning authorities, and delegation of planning decisions in England.
Spatial Development Strategies: It outlines the preparation and publication of spatial development strategies.
Development and Nature Recovery: This includes environmental delivery plans (EDPs), the nature restoration levy, and Natural England’s powers and duties.
Development Corporations: Areas for development, duties to consider sustainable development and climate change, and powers related to infrastructure and transport functions.
Compulsory Purchase: Electronic service of notices, content of newspaper notices, and new powers to appoint an inspector.
Miscellaneous and General Provisions: Reporting on extra-territorial environmental outcomes, provisions regarding the Crown, and amendments to existing acts.

Environmental Statements:

The Bill asserts that its provisions are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
It ensures that the Bill does not reduce the level of environmental protection provided by existing laws.

Overall Purpose:

The Bill aims to make comprehensive provisions about infrastructure, town and country planning, and environmental outcomes. It introduces a nature restoration levy for developers and enhances the role of development corporations.

Here’s an overview of the key provisions related to development and nature recovery in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill:

Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs)

Scope of an EDP: An Environmental Delivery Plan (EDP) outlines the area, type, volume of development, and the time period it covers. It includes details about environmental features, potential impacts, and necessary conservation measures.
Procedure: The process involves Natural England preparing the EDP, followed by a consultation on the draft plan, and then the Secretary of State finalizing and publishing it. There are also provisions for reporting on, amending, revoking, and challenging the EDP.

Nature Restoration Levy

Commitment and Liability: Developers are required to commit to paying a nature restoration levy. The amount of the levy, liability, and use of funds are specified in the regulations.
Use of Levy: The funds collected through the levy are used for environmental restoration projects and conservation efforts.

Natural England’s Role

Implementation: Natural England is responsible for administering and implementing EDPs. They have the power to acquire land compulsorily if needed for environmental projects.
Annual Reports: Natural England must produce annual reports on their activities related to EDPs.

Sustainable Development and Climate Change

Development Corporations: These bodies must consider sustainable development and climate change in their projects. They are given powers related to infrastructure and transport functions to support their development initiatives.

In essence, this part of the Bill aims to integrate environmental considerations into development planning, ensure that developers contribute to nature restoration, and empower Natural England to oversee and implement conservation efforts.