The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has published guidance explaining 48 commonly used terms and abbreviations in the nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP) process under the Planning Act 2008 (PA 2008). The document defines key terminology, including a development consent order (DCO), an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and different types of hearings, among others. It is intended to assist individuals affected by NSIP applications who may be unfamiliar with the technical language used in the planning process.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has published guidance setting out examples of documents it considers to be helpful in the examination of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects under the Planning Act 2008. The guidance explains that the examples are provided to illustrate effective styles, formats and approaches that have supported the examination process, rather than to endorse the evidence contained within them, and that the Inspectorate has identified what worked well in each case and, where relevant, what could be improved.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has published non-statutory guidance providing advice on the ‘good design’ of nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs). This guidance defines and explains the requirements for good design, how to achieve good design, and the National Infrastructure Strategy, among other aspects. PINS has suggested that this guidance should be read alongside guidance available in the ‘National Infrastructure Planning Guidance Portal’, as well as the Planning Act 2008 (PA 2008).

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has published two guidance documents on non-urgent Crown Development applications for planning permission under sections 293D and 293E of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990). The first guidance document provides a brief overview of the application procedure, including the consultation and decision-making stages. The second document outlines the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved in the non-urgent Crown Development process and provides a detailed explanation of how applications are submitted and publicised, how PINS conducts consultations, and how decisions are made.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has published guidance on preparing applications for development consent orders for linear nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) in England and Wales. This non-statutory guidance focuses on linear NSIPs such as electric lines, gas transporter and other pipelines, water resource transfers, and onshore transmission works included as associated development to offshore wind generating stations, as defined in the Planning Act 2008 (PA 2008). It provides examples and best practices to assist applicants in preparing comprehensive applications, helps interested parties, including local authorities and communities, understand the areas where pre-application engagement and agreement is needed, and guides affected persons, including statutory undertakers, on engagement and timely agreement processes.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has published guidance providing definitions of key terms used in Crown development applications. The document includes an A–Z glossary, explaining words and phrases commonly encountered throughout the Crown development process, including definitions for terms such as ‘Crown body’, ‘Crown land’, ‘Interested party’ and ‘Recovered application’, among others.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has published guidance, outlining upcoming changes to the written representation appeals process, following a Ministerial decision to amend current regulations. Under the new process, written representation appeals handled by PINS will be eligible for a new route. In most cases, only the evidence submitted to the local planning authority (LPA) at the application stage will be accepted. This change is intended to encourage applicants to submit a full body of evidence, enabling LPAs to make better-informed decisions and to keep planning decisions local. The new process is expected to take effect once the new regulations come into force, anticipated in late 2025. PINS will update its procedural guide once it receives the final version of the amended regulations. This reform aims to streamline the planning appeals procedure.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has published guidance on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in any appeal, application, or examination handled by them. PINS has specified, among other aspects, that if AI is utilised to create or alter any part of a document, information, or data, you should inform them when providing the material. In addition, you should disclose what systems or tools have been used, the source of the information the AI system based its content on, and what information or material the AI was used to create or modify.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has published a letter from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook MP, setting out the government's expectations for how deliverability and viability should be assessed during local plan examinations. Pennycook requests that inspectors take a pragmatic and proportionate approach when assessing deliverability and viability evidence and states that, where there is a robust evidence base and a reasonable basis for concluding that site allocations are capable of delivery over the plan period as a whole, concerns about deliverability and viability should be approached pragmatically. The letter states that inspectors should assess site allocations over the plan period as a whole, rather than solely against current market conditions and distinguish between uncertainty arising from market conditions and evidence of a fundamental obstacle to delivery. It also states that assessing plan viability does not require individual testing of every site, confirms that the statutory requirements for local plan preparation and examination remain unchanged.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has published and added nine new advice notes to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) advice pages. This publication is part of the second phase of updates and covers transboundary impacts and process, cumulative effects assessments, the habitats regulations assessment, the water framework directive, and working with public bodies, among other topics. These advice notes supersede previous existing notes, namely notes 3, 10, 11, 12, 17, and 18.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has published a resource page, comprising a collection of existing information on the public rights of way and common land areas it deals with, along with associated guidance.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has published feedback from stakeholders pertaining to future improvements for PINS and the wider planning system. In March and April 2024, PINS conducted a survey, receiving 129 responses from various stakeholders, including local planning authorities (LPAs), agents, developers, and professional bodies. The next survey is scheduled for February 2025.