Taking part at the pre-application stage

Contents

What happens at the pre-application stage

Before the applicant sends their application for a proposed national infrastructure development to the Planning Inspectorate, they must carry out public consultation. This happens at the pre-application stage.

The applicant must consult:

• the general public
• parish councils
• statutory consultees
• local authorities and councils
• land owners and tenants

They must gather all comments and information from members of the public and organisations. This feedback is taken into account and used to help shape the proposed project.

What the applicant must do

The applicant must advertise their consultation period.

The advert must appear for at least two weeks and include:

• a description of the project
• where you can find out more about the project
• the deadline for sending them your comments

The applicant must also contact consultees and anyone whose land is affected by the proposed development.

How you can get involved at this point

You need to contact the applicant to get involved at this stage.

If there is a project page on this website, you can find the applicant's details here. Alternatively, you can find information in local news or ask your local authority.

Getting involved in the applicant's consultation during the pre-application stage is very important. This is your opportunity to put forward any questions and concerns, and find out more about the development and how it might impact the area.

What you can do if the application has already been submitted

If the application has been sent to the Planning Inspectorate, you can get involved by registering to have your say.

You must do this when the project is in the pre-examination stage.

Next Registering to have your say about a national infrastructure project

Part of Have your say about a national infrastructure project

1. 1 Taking part at the pre-application stage

   Pre-application is the first stage of the process. This is where the applicant must consult with people and organisations. The applicant must provide information about how you can submit your comments to them. It is important to get involved at this stage as you can influence the application before the applicant sends it to the Planning Inspectorate.

   1. Taking part before the application is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.

2. 2 Registering to have your say about a national infrastructure project

   To get involved after the application is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate, you must register to have your say at the pre-examination stage. Pre-examination is where we prepare for an examination. We will identify an inspector or a panel of inspectors called the Examining Authority and make a plan for the examination stage. Registration is open for at least 30 days. The pre-examination stage takes about 3 months.

   1. How to register to have your say about a national infrastructure project.

3. 3 Get involved in the preliminary meeting

   In the months after the registration period closes, the Examining Authority will hold a preliminary meeting. This meeting is to discuss the main issues the Examining Authority will be examining, and the timetable for the examination stage.

   1. What you can do at the preliminary meeting.

4. 4 Have your say during the examination of the application

   At this stage the Examining Authority asks questions about the proposed development. The applicant and anyone who has registered to have their say can make comments by the deadlines in the examination timetable. Anyone can attend hearings that may take place during this stage. The examination can take up to 6 months.

   1. Submitting comments during the examination stage.

5. 5 What you can do after the decision has been made

   Once a decision is made by the relevant Secretary of State, there is a 6 week period where people can challenge the decision in the High Court. This is called a judicial review.

   1. What happens after a decision has been made?