Member

At the start of the examination process, the examining authorities are required to make an initial assessment of the principal issues—an IAPI—for each application, which will detail the key matters specific to an application. Although the Planning Act requires that an initial assessment of the principal issues is made at the start of the examination, there is no requirement for it to be used for or to influence anything in the subsequent examination process. We believe that that initial assessment stage could be working harder to set the foundations for effective and streamlined examinations. That is why we are amending the Bill to ensure that the initial assessment of principal issues is a meaningful step that ensures that more focused examinations can occur. Through the amendment, examining authorities will be required to make procedural decisions about how they intend to examine an application in the light of the IAPI. That will support their ability to ensure that examinations are focused, with time prioritised on the issues that are most critical to the project, as set out in the IAPI. The change will also give more certainty up front to all those involved in examinations, so that they have more clarity about what to expect during the examination process.