Advice to Christopher Tolmie

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Enquiry

From
Christopher Tolmie
Date advice given
26 May 2010
Enquiry type
Email

Caller enquired whether the IPC is involved with the High Speed Railway 2 (HS2) project given the nature of its size?

Advice given

The Planning Act 2008 ("the Act") sets out thresholds for the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) to determine Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). In relation to the proposed High Speed 2 Rail project, Section 25 of the Act details the thresholds to be met for a Railways NSIP application seeking development consent: 25 Railways (1) Construction of a railway is within section 14(1) (k) only if- (a) the railway will (when constructed) be wholly in England, (b) the railway will (when constructed) be part of a network operated by an approved operator, and (c ) the construction of the railway is not permitted development. If these conditions are met it would therefore be possible for HS2 to be submitted to the IPC as an application for development consent. The IPC, so far, have no involvement with the HS2 project proposal. I would recommend viewing the web site for the HS2 project for more information and to check for updates: www.hs2.org.uk. If it was intended to submit an application to the IPC for development consent, the project would appear on the IPC's website as an anticipated project once the applicant has made an initial approach to the Commission for discussion of the project.