Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) are projects of certain types, over a certain size, which are considered by the Government to be so big and nationally important that permission to build them needs to be given at a national level, by the responsible Government minister (the ‘Secretary of State’). Instead of applying to the local authority for Planning Permission, the developer must apply to the Planning Inspectorate for a different permission called a Development Consent Order (DCO). The NSIP process is defined through the Planning Act 2008 (as amended).
Responsibility for accepting and examining the NSIP application rests with the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) on behalf of the Secretary of State and not the local authorities, who are identified as statutory consultees, or ‘host’ authorities, in the NSIP process.
The process
The whole NSIP process from the formal submission of the application through to determination and decision normally takes around 15 months. This is broken down as follows:
- 28 days for the Planning Inspectorate to accept the application;
- A flexible period for pre-examination of around 3 months*;
- A maximum of six months for the Examination;
- A further three months for a recommendation to be provided to the Secretary of State by the Planning Inspectorate; and
- Three months for the Secretary of State to make a decision.
* As the pre-examination stage does not have a formal timescale attached to it, each project will be different, but it does provide a useful starting point.
Read more about the NSIP process on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.
Cambridgeshire County Council’s role
The role of the local authorities as statutory consultees can be summarised in three ways:
- Scrutinising the applicant’s NSIP application;
- Offering technical advice as part of the pre-application process to help shape the proposals; and
- Ensuring that necessary mitigations are secured where possible.
When an application falls within Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire County Council becomes known as a ‘host authority’. The Host Authorities work together as far as possible to ensure full scrutiny of projects in our areas is undertaken. It is important to note that as the ‘host’ planning authorities, we are not the determining authorities, and do not grant or deny the DCO.
Any correspondence in relation to NSIPs needs to be directed to the relevant applicant (details for which can be found on the council’s associated NSIP pages) in the first instance, and then the Planning Inspectorate.
Infrastructure Planning (Fees) Regulations 2010 (as amended)
From 8 June 2026, Host Local Authorities can charge fees for work on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) following changes to national planning regulations.
The Government has amended Schedule 2 of the Infrastructure Planning (Fees) Regulations 2010, adding Host Local Authorities to the list of Prescribed Public Authorities. This amendment provides councils with the legal power to recover costs for the services they provide in connection with NSIPs. This means that Local Authorities can charge for their involvement in NSIP proposals affecting their areas. This includes providing technical advice, taking part in pre‑application discussions, and input into examination and post‑consent activities.
Cambridgeshire County Council’s NSIP fees and charges
Cambridgeshire County Council seeks to recover costs for relevant services including, but not limited to:
- Planning
- Project and Programme Management including associated administrative costs
- Senior Management
- Minerals and Waste
- Ecology and Biodiversity
- Archaeology and Historic Environment
- Public Rights of Way
- Highways and Transport
- Flood Risk Management/Lead Local Flood Authority
- Public Health
- Communities
- Skills and Employment
- Climate Change and Carbon
- Education
- Economic Development
- Children and Young People (including Schools Infrastructure)
- Adult Social Care
- Emergency Planning
- Legal Services
- Corporate Services including Communications
Cambridgeshire County Council’s fees and charges for NSIP-related work can be viewed at Fees and charges in the Schedule of Fees and Charges 2026-2027.
The hourly rates (which exclude VAT) as set out in this schedule are applied to the actual time spent by officers on a given project and are applied based on their job grade and oncosts. These rates are reviewed annually as a minimum. This is to ensure the fees charged by Cambridgeshire County Council do not exceed the reasonable costs of providing the relevant services, to ensure compliance with cost recovery principles.
Exceptions to the rates include Road Safety Auditing and the Cambridgeshire Historic Environment Team, both of which have separate set fees. These are set out in the fee schedule and are reviewed annually.
Legal costs and any external specialist expertise will be set out separately as required for each project.
In the first instance, Cambridgeshire County Council will seek to enter into a Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) with developers to establish a mutually agreed, clear, and contractually robust set of principles for both parties. Whilst a PPA is being agreed, the council expects developers to provide a Letter of Intent, setting out their intention to enable cost recovery. The fees and charges set out above will, however, apply with or without a PPA.
To support the council to provide estimated fees, the council requires sight of an engagement plan or intended programme of works. These are usually included as appendices to the PPAs.
Legislation and guidance
By virtue of the Infrastructure Planning (Fees) Regulations 2010 (as amended by the Infrastructure Planning (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 and the Infrastructure Planning (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 ), the council can charge for the provision of “relevant services” (as defined by section 54A(2) Planning Act 2008.
Section 54A(2) of the Planning Act 2008 defines a "relevant service" as "any advice, information or other assistance (including a response to a consultation) provided in connection with (a) an application or proposed application— (i) for an order granting development consent, or (ii) to make a change to, or revoke, such an order, or (b) any other prescribed matter relating to nationally significant infrastructure projects."
Taking part in the NSIP process
Opportunities for members of the public to take part in the NSIP process and comment on applications are as follows:
- Take part in pre-application consultations, if the applicant holds public consultations.
- Register to take part in the Examination (Members of the public can register as interested parties once an application has been accepted for Examination by PINS, by submitting a relevant representation).
- Make written submissions and respond to Examiner’s questions.
- Attend hearings and site visits.
- Check the PINS project website for updates or further consultations by the secretary of state that you may wish to respond to.
Please refer to the Planning Inspectorate website in the first instance for information on the process and how to get involved.
