| SPOTLIGHT |
A new organisation aimed at securing improvements to the planning and authorisation system for major projects has called on local authorities to get actively involved.
More than 100 people attended the inaugural meeting of the National Infrastructure Planning Association this week at the offices of law firm Bircham Dyson Bell.
Steve Norris, the former government minister who will chair the association, told delegates that it was vital that the UK had good infrastructure in a range of sectors. The decision-making process – whether ultimately to approve or block a project – should be efficient and not excessively long, he said, adding that “we simply cannot go on as we are”.
Norris said NIPA’s principal objective was to ensure that the system established under the Planning Act 2008 for considering nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) worked well. The association’s launch was well-timed with the expected publication of the Localism Bill later this month.
NIPA’s first chairman said the association wanted to be inclusive, with membership open to all those with an interest in the area, whether promoters, central government, councils, regulators, consultants and others.
The association would not express views on the merits or otherwise of individual projects or technologies, he pointed out.
Robbie Owen, head of Bircham Dyson Bell’s major projects team, played a key part in the creation of NIPA and will act as the association’s first secretary.
Although unable to make the launch meeting, he said in a statement: “The last government was conscious of the need to ensure that we had a planning system that could cope effectively with proposals for nationally important infrastructure projects.
“As the coalition government develops this thinking NIPA has a clear role to play in ensuring that the emerging planning regime is fit for purpose, and capable of delivering the projects that we so urgently need in a timely and cost effective way. “
A steering group has already been set up to lead the association’s initial development. Further work will now begin on a business plan, a website and events.
For more information on NIPA, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
