Regulator profile

Planning Inspectorate

The Planning Inspectorate

Enforcement Regulator England & Wales

What Planning Inspectorate does

Examines applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) under the Planning Act 2008, including large offshore wind farms, power stations, and transmission lines. Makes recommendations to Secretary of State.

Development Consent Orders (DCOs) for projects over thresholds. Offshore wind >100MW goes through PINS.

Development ConsentPlanning

Contact Planning Inspectorate

Official guidance from Planning Inspectorate

Curated guidance documents to help you understand your obligations.

GOV.UK appeal a planning decision (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Appeal a listed building consent decision (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

National Policy Statements for NSIPs (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Planning appeals procedural guide (opens in a new tab)

Publication

Planning Inspectorate (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects: Advice for Local Authorities (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects: Advice on Cumulative Effects Assessment (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects: Advice on EIA Notification and Consultation (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

View all 85 guidance documents (opens in a new tab)

Legislation that Planning Inspectorate directly enforces.

Primary legislation

PLBCAA 1990 Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Part VIII Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 Planning Act 2008, Part 3

Secondary legislation

The Town and Country Planning (Enforcement Notices and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2002 Infrastructure Planning (Fees) Regulations 2010 Infrastructure Planning (Interested Parties) Regulations 2010 Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation) (England) Regulations 2012 Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017

Legislation connected to Planning Inspectorate’s remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.

Establishing / enabling

The Town and Country Planning (Hearings Procedure) (England) Rules 2000 UK Statutory Instrument The Town and Country Planning (Inquiries Procedure) (England) Rules 2000 UK Statutory Instrument Town and Country Planning (Hearings Procedure) (England) Rules 2000 UK Statutory Instrument The Infrastructure Planning (Examination Procedure) Rules 2010 UK Statutory Instrument

Administered / monitored

UKPGA 2013/27 UK Act of Parliament The Highway and Railway (Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project) Order 2013 UK Statutory Instrument

Referenced in enforcement

Highways Act 1980 UK Act of Parliament Acquisition of Land Act 1981 UK Act of Parliament Transport and Works Act 1992 UK Act of Parliament Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 UK Statutory Instrument Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications) (England) Regulations 2012 UK Statutory Instrument Town and Country Planning (Brownfield Land Register) Regulations 2017 UK Statutory Instrument Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) (Amendment) Order 2021 UK Statutory Instrument Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 UK Act of Parliament The Biodiversity Gain Requirements (Exemptions) Regulations 2024 UK Statutory Instrument

Other publications

4 additional documents from Planning Inspectorate.

Preparing a building assessment certificate application (opens in a new tab)

Published 4 April 2024

Meet biodiversity net gain requirements: steps for developers (opens in a new tab)

Published 29 November 2023

Building safety guides for accountable persons (opens in a new tab)

Published 19 September 2023

Planning appeals procedural guide (opens in a new tab)

Published 1 October 2014

Sectors regulated

InfrastructureMining vehicles, transport and equipment

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