When applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) are examined, some parties may incur significant costs when they take part in the process. In planning decisions, the general rule is that each party bears its own costs: you do not have to pay another party’s costs if you ‘lose’. The same applies to examinations into NSIP applications.

Guidance issued by the Secretary of State explains in detail how such an application for an award of costs will be treated, and gives examples of unreasonable behaviour. It also gives examples of good practice which will help avoid the risk of other parties obtaining an award.