Planning Act 2008

Long title

A Bill to establish the Infrastructure Planning Commission and make provision about its functions; to make provision about, and about matters ancillary to, the authorisation of projects for the development of nationally significant infrastructure; to make provision about town and country planning; to make provision about the imposition of a Community Infrastructure Levy; and for connected purposes.

Summary

<p><strong>Planning Bill</strong></p><p>The Bill introduces a new system for approving major infrastructure of national importance, such as harbours and waste facilities, and replaces current regimes under several pieces of legislation. The objective is to streamline these decisions and avoid long public inquiries.</p><p><strong>Key areas</strong></p><ul><li>Decisions would be taken by a new Infrastructure Planning Commission </li><li>Decisions would be based on new national policy statements </li><li>The hearing and decision-making process by the Commission would be timetabled</li><li>The new regime would be used for energy developments like nuclear power </li><li>The Secretary of State would no longer have the final say on major infrastructure decisions</li><li>There would be a new Community Infrastructure Levy on developments to finance infrastructure. The idea of this would be to raise money from developers to pay for facilities needed as a consequence of new developments, such as schools, hospitals and sewage plants.</li><li>Planning appeals for minor developments would be heard by a panel of local councillors rather than by a planning inspector.</li></ul>

Progress through Parliament

1. 1st reading· Commons

   27 November 2007 – 27 November 2007

2. 2nd reading· Commons

   10 December 2007 – 10 December 2007

3. Programme motion· Commons

   10 December 2007 – 10 December 2007

4. Money resolution· Commons

   10 December 2007 – 10 December 2007

5. Committee stage· Commons

   8 January 2008 – 5 February 2008

6. Programme motion· Commons

   2 June 2008 – 2 June 2008

7. Report stage· Commons

   2 June 2008 – 25 June 2008

8. Programme motion· Commons

   25 June 2008 – 25 June 2008

9. 3rd reading· Commons

   25 June 2008 – 25 June 2008

10. 1st reading· Lords

    26 June 2008 – 26 June 2008

11. 2nd reading· Lords

    15 July 2008 – 15 July 2008

12. Committee stage· Lords

    6 October 2008 – 23 October 2008

13. Report stage· Lords

    6 November 2008 – 12 November 2008

14. 3rd reading· Lords

    18 November 2008 – 18 November 2008

15. Programme motion· Commons

    24 November 2008 – 24 November 2008

16. Consideration of Lords amendments· Commons

    24 November 2008 – 24 November 2008

17. Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons· Lords

    25 November 2008 – 25 November 2008

18. Royal Assent· Unassigned

    26 November 2008 – 26 November 2008