The Planning Inspectorate has published a series of advice notes that are intended to inform applicants, consultees, the public and others about a range of process matters in relation to the Planning Act 2008 (PA2008). We also publish good practice advice notes and other guidance relating to planning appeals and other casework under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 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.

Advice notes which deal with the PA2008 process 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 applicants and others are encouraged to consider carefully, it is not a requirement for applicants 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 our advice notes keep track of any changes, including when new advice notes are published.

Advice Note One: Local Impact Reports Republished April 2012 (version 2)

Advice Note One is about the production of Local Impact Reports. It is intended to assist local authorities with the form and content of these reports.

Advice Note Two: The role of local authorities in the development consent process Published February 2015 (version 1)

Advice Note Two seeks to provide advice about the important role of local authorities at different stages of the Planning Act 2008 process. It sets out practical ways in which local authority officers and members can participate in the process and manage resources effectively.

Advice Note Three: EIA consultation and notification Republished August 2017 (version 7)

The purpose of this advice note is to explain the approach taken by the Planning Inspectorate, on behalf of the Secretary of State, when identifying consultation bodies to be notified under Regulation 11 of The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (the ‘EIA Regulations’) and where relevant, consulted on the scope of the Environmental Statement under Regulation 10 of the EIA Regulations. This advice note also identifies non-prescribed consultation bodies that the Planning Inspectorate may consult on a discretionary basis. Please note, this advice note refers to annexes in a separate document (PDF 226 KB).

Advice Note Four: Section 52  Republished March 2017 (version 6)

Advice Note Four sets out advice on how to apply to the Planning Inspectorate to authorise an applicant to serve a written notice which requires the recipient to provide information to an applicant about interests in land. Please note, this advice note refers to annexes in a separate document (DOC 119 KB).

Advice Note Five: Section 53 – Rights of entry Republished March 2017 (version 6)

This advice 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 s53 of the Planning Act 2008. Please note, this advice note refers to annexes in a separate document (DOC 132 KB).

Advice Note Six: Preparation and submission of application documents  (version 11)

This advice note will assist applicants in preparing, organising and submitting applications to the Planning Inspectorate. Please note, this advice note refers to

• Appendix 1 – Preparing the technical index to accompany an NSIP application
• Appendix 2 – Electronic Application Index (XLSX 73 KB)
• Appendix 3 – Section 55 Acceptance of Applications Checklist (DOC 203 KB)

Advice Note Seven: Environmental Impact Assessment: Preliminary Environmental Information, Screening and Scoping Republished June 2020 (version 7)

The purpose of this advice note is to provide advice on elements of the EIA process during the Pre-application stage, namely screening and scoping and to assist applicants in understanding the role of preliminary environmental information. The purpose of this Annex (PDF 213kb) is to provide useful advice to support applicants with the preparation of their Environmental Statement.

Advice Note Eight: Overview of the nationally significant infrastructure planning process for members of the public and others Published December 2016

Advice Note Eight has been produced in six sections and aims to take you step by step through the planning process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects:

• • Advice Note 8.1: Responding to the developer’s pre-application consultation (version 2)
  • Advice Note 8.2: How to register to participate in an Examination (version 3)
  • Advice Note 8.3: Influencing how an application is Examined: the Preliminary Meeting (version 4)
  • Advice Note 8.4: The Examination (version 7)
    Annex – Video Submission Proforma (version 1)
  • Advice Note 8.5: The Examination: hearings and site inspections  (version 4)
  • Advice Note 8.6: Virtual examination events (version 1)

Advice Note Nine: Rochdale Envelope  Republished July 2018 (version 3)

This advice note addresses the use of the ‘Rochdale Envelope’ approach under the Planning Act 2008 (PA2008). A number of applicants have sought advice on the degree of flexibility that would be considered appropriate with regards to an application for a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project under the PA2008 regime.

Advice Note Ten: Habitat Regulations Assessment relevant to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects Republished August 2022 (version 9)

This advice note provides advice for Applicants in relation to the Habitats Regulations. It identifies the stages of the Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) process and clarifies the information to be provided with a DCO application with respect to HRA at each stage of the Planning Act 2008 process. Version 9 reflects changes in legislation, guidance and suggested ways of working.

Advice Note Eleven: Working with public bodies in the infrastructure planning process Republished November 2017 (version 4)

This advice note explains the framework which governs the involvement of relevant consultees and consenting bodies at each stage in the Planning Act 2008 (PA2008) 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 in the PA2008 process. This advice note should be read in conjunction with the supporting annexes found below:

• Annex A – Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru/Natural Resources Wales (PDF 73 KB)
• Annex B – Marine Management Organisation
• Annex C – Natural England
• Annex D – Environment Agency
• Annex E – Historic England
• Annex F – Nuclear Regulators
• Annex G – The Health and Safety Executive 
• Annex H – Evidence Plans for Habitats Regulations Assessments of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects

Advice Note Twelve: Transboundary Impacts and Process Republished December 2020 (version 6)

This advice note explains the roles and responsibilities of the Secretary of State, the Planning Inspectorate, European Economic Area Member States and applicant applicable under Regulation 32 of The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. The advice note includes Annex 1 – the Inspectorate’s long form transboundary screening proforma (ODT, 40kb) and Annex 2 – the Inspectorate’s short form transboundary screening proforma (ODT, 37kb).

Advice Note Thirteen: Preparation of a draft Development Consent Order and Explanatory Memorandum Republished February 2019 (version 3)

This advice note has been prepared to provide some assistance to applicants when preparing their draft Development Consent Order and Explanatory Memorandum.

Advice Note Fourteen: Compiling the Consultation Report Republished February 2021 (version 3)

This advice note is aimed primarily at applicants and local authorities, however, it is also relevant to any consultee who may be interested to know how an applicant’s Pre-application consultation is reported. It seeks to provide advice about the format and content of the Consultation Report.

Advice Note Fifteen: Drafting Development Consent Orders Republished July 2018 (version 2)

This advice note sets out advice from the Planning Inspectorate on the preparation of the draft Development Consent Order (DCO). It also reflects the views, on DCO drafting matters, of those government departments that are most involved in the consenting of DCOs.

Advice Note Sixteen: Requests to change applications after they have been accepted for examination   Published March 2023 (version 3)

The purpose of this Advice Note is to provide information to applicants about how to request a change to an application after it has been accepted, and before the close of the Examination. It also provides advice to Interested Parties and others about how to engage in the process when a change to an application is proposed.

Advice Note Seventeen: Cumulative effects assessment Published August 2019 (version 2)

This advice note sets out a staged approach to cumulative effects assessment (CEA) for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and provides template formats for documenting the CEA within an applicant’s Environmental Statement. Please note, this advice note refers to Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 as separate documents.

Advice Note Eighteen: The Water Framework Directive  Published June 2017 (version 1)

This advice note explains the roles of applicants, the appropriate agencies and the Secretary of State in meeting the requirements of The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017, as applicable to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects under the Planning Act 2008. The advice note also introduces and explains the use of Water Framework Directive overview matrices [see Appendix 1] prepared by the Planning Inspectorate.

Frequently asked questions

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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.