Member

I turn to the main issues presented by the amendments: how the notification duty will work, and the scope of the guidance to support applicants in preparing applications. On the first, as noble Lords will be aware, the Bill amends the duty on applicants to notify the Planning Inspectorate of their applications to now include host local authorities. Local authorities of course play an important role in assessing the likely local impacts of projects and representing the interests of their communities through the DCO process. Early knowledge of applications is fundamental to enable local authorities to prepare for, resource and engage constructively with applications while these are at the formative stage. Moreover, meaningful engagement with local authorities is in the interest of applicants, given the role they play in the examination process and through the provision of local impact reports. That is why the Government have extended the current duty to include them.