The Planning Inspectorate has published a series of advice notes that are intended to inform developers, consultees, the public and others about a range of process matters in relation to the Planning Act 2008 process (as amended by the Localism Act 2011). It also publishes good practice advice notes and other guidance relating to planning appeals and other casework under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) and related legislation. Each item of advice and guidance sets out the general type of casework and/or the legislation that is applicable to it, and should be read and applied in that way.

National infrastructure advice notes are non-statutory. They are published to provide advice and information on a range of issues arising throughout the whole life of the application process. Although in many cases they include recommendations from the Planning Inspectorate about the approach to particular matters of process, which developers and others are encouraged to consider carefully, it is not a requirement for developers or others to have regard to the content of advice notes.

A change register has now been published at the foot of this page to help those who regularly refer to national infrastructure advice notes keep track of any changes including when new advice notes are published.

Advice note one: Local impact reports (PDF 307 KB) Republished April 2012 (version 2)
Advice note one is about the production of the local impact report (LIR). It is intended to assist local authorities with the form and content of these reports.

Advice note two: Working together on nationally significant infrastructure projects
This advice note has been withdrawn and is currently being reviewed with a view to it being republished in an amended form in due course

Advice note three: EIA consultation and notification (PDF 1.8 MB) Republished July 2013 (version 5)
The purpose of this advice note is to explain the approach taken to identifying consultation bodies to be notified by the Secretary of State under Regulation 9 of The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2009 (‘the EIA Regulations’) and where relevant, consulted on the scope of the Environmental Statement (ES) under Regulation 8 of the EIA Regulations. Please note, this advice note refers to annexe in a separate document (PDF 226 KB).

Advice note four: Section 52 (PDF 694 KB) Republished October 2013 (version 4)
Advice note four sets out advice on how to apply to the Planning Inspectorate to authorise a developer to serve a written notice which requires the recipient to provide information to the developer about interests in land. Please note, this advice note refers to annexes in a separate document (DOC 144 KB).

Advice note five: Section 53 – Rights of entry (PDF 507 KB) Republished October 2013 (version 4)
This note sets out advice on how to apply to the Planning Inspectorate for an authorisation for a right of entry to gain access onto land in order to carry out surveys and take levels under s.53 of the Planning Act 2008. Please note, this advice note refers to annexes in a separate document (DOC 157 KB).

Advice note six: Preparation and submission of application documents (PDF 563 KB) Republished June 2012 (version 5)
This advice note will assist applicants in preparing, organising and submitting applications to the Planning Inspectorate. Please note, this advice note refers to Appendix 2 – Section 55 Acceptance of Applications Checklist (DOC 212 KB) and an annex – Preparing the technical index to accompany an NSIP application (PDF 223 KB)

Advice note seven: Environmental Impact Assessment, screening and scoping (PDF 553 KB) Republished July 2013 (version 4)
The purpose of this advice note is to provide advice on elements of the EIA process during pre-application, namely screening and scoping and to assist applicants in understanding the role of preliminary environmental information.

Advice note eight: How to get involved in the planning process Republished April 2012
Advice note eight has been produced in five sections and aims to take you step by step through the planning process for major infrastructure projects:Advice note 8.1: How the process works (PDF 2.1 MB) (version 3)
Advice note 8.2: Responding to the developer’s pre-application consultation (PDF 1.4 MB) (version 3)
Advice note 8.3: How to register and become an interested party in an application (PDF 2 MB) (version 4)
Advice note 8.4: Influencing how an application will be examined – the Preliminary Meeting (PDF 1.4 MB) (version 3)
Advice note 8.5: Participating in the examination (PDF 2 MB) (version 3)

Advice note nine: Rochdale Envelope (PDF 450 KB) Republished April 2012 (version 2)
This advice note addresses the use of the ‘Rochdale Envelope’ approach under the Planning Act 2008. A number of developers, particularly those for proposed offshore wind farms, have sought guidance on the degree of flexibility that would be considered appropriate with regards to an application for a nationally significant infrastructure project under the Planning Act 2008 regime.

Advice note ten: Habitat Regulations Assessment relevant to nationally significant infrastructure projects (PDF 1 MB) Republished August 2013 (version 5)
This version of Advice Note 10 supersedes all previous versions. It has been substantially revised to provide practical guidance on how to submit Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) information with an application and how the Planning Act 2008 process, as amended by the Localism Act 2011, will address HRA. The relevant Secretary of State is the competent authority for the purposes of the Habitats Directive and the 2010 Habitats Regulations.A set of matrices has been introduced to be submitted with a Development Consent Order application. These new matrices will form an integral part of the information submitted with the application. This advice note explains how the matrices should be prepared by the applicant and how these matrices will be used to inform the decision making process. Template matrices are provided in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2.

Advice note eleven: Working with public bodies in the infrastructure planning process (PDF 264 KB) Republished April 2012 (version 3)
This advice note explains the framework which governs the involvement of relevant consultees and consenting bodies at each stage in the process and sets out the key principles which the Planning Inspectorate hopes will underpin working arrangements. This advice note does not deal with the role of local authorities under the 2008 Act regime. This advice note should be read in conjunction with the supporting annexes found below:
Annex A – Countryside Council for Wales (PDF 73 KB)
Annex B – Marine Management Organisation (PDF 151 KB)
Annex C – Natural England (PDF 170 KB)
Annex D – Environment Agency (PDF 133 KB)
Annex E – English Heritage (PDF 88 KB)

Advice note twelve: Development with significant transboundary impacts consultation (PDF 400 KB) Republished April 2012 (version 3)
This advice note sets out the procedures for consultation in association with an application for development consent to the Planning Inspectorate, where such development has likely significant transboundary impacts. Please note, this advice note refers to annexes in a separate document (PDF 257 KB).

Advice note thirteen: Preparation of a draft order granting development consent and explanatory memorandum (PDF 515 KB) Republished April 2012 (version 2)
This advice note has been prepared to provide some assistance to developers when preparing their draft order and explanatory memorandum.

Advice note fourteen: Compiling the consultation report (PDF 493 KB) Republished April 2012 (version 2)
This advice note is aimed primarily at developers and local authorities, however, it is also relevant to any consultee who may be interested to know how the developer’s pre-application consultation is reported. It seeks to provide advice about the format and content of the consultation report. Please note, this advice note refers to an annex in a separate document (DOC 413 KB).

Advice note fifteen: Advice digest
This advice note has been withdrawn and is currently being reviewed with a view to it being republished in an amended form in due course.

Advice note sixteen: The developer’s pre-application consultation, publicity and notification duties (PDF 530 KB) Published April 2012 (version 1)
This advice note explains some of the developer’s pre-application consultation, publicity and notification duties. It contains advice that was previously contained in the Infrastructure Planning Commission’s Guidance Note 1 at paragraphs 6 to 24. That advice has been updated to take account of changes brought in by the Localism Act 2011.

Advice note change register

This change register was introduced on 1 May 2012 and lists any changes made to existing advice notes and notes the publication of any new advice notes.