The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has published updated guidance on changes to application fees and charges payable from 1 April 2026/27 for applications for development consent for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) in England and Wales.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has published updated guidance on preparing Statements of Common Ground (SoCG) for appeals under Section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The updated guidance, applicable to all appeals determined by inquiry or hearing, introduces ‘topic-specific SoCGs’ to supplement the man SoCG, and details clear submission timelines. It also provides guidance on collaboration between parties, including the potential involvement of Rule 6 parties, and recommendations on format and presentation. The guidance was developed in conjunction with the Planning & Environment Bar Association (PEBA). Additionally, PINS and PEBA have jointly produced a SoCG template to serve as a guide for developing an effective SoCG.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has reported that the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero has granted development consent for the Drax Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage Project. The project will see the installation and operation of post-combustion technologies and connected equipment that will capture the carbon dioxide released from two biomass units at Drax Power Station. The application was submitted by Drax Power Limited on 23 May 2022, accepted for examination on 10 June 2022 and recommendations were made to the Secretary of State on 17 October 2023.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has published a letter from its Chief Executive, Paul Morrison, to the Minister of State, Matthew Pennycook MP, responding to Pennycook's correspondence of 9 October 2025. In the letter, Morrison confirms that inspectors will continue to apply flexibility in local plan examinations where permitted by legislation and national policy, in line with Pennycook's expectation that local plans submitted under the current plan-making system should be treated with appropriate flexibility. The letter also acknowledges the revocation of the March 2014 ministerial letter on Green Belt reviews and welcomes future reforms to the plan-making system, particularly in relation to the Duty to Cooperate. PINS further encourages local authorities to remain in regular contact regarding plan submission timings, utilise the new pre-examination checklist when developing plans and make use of free Advisory Visits to focus plan development on soundness and legal compliance.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has announced that from 1 June 2026, all planning and enforcement appeals must be submitted via the ‘Appeal a planning decision’ service, with paper appeal forms no longer accepted. From 1 May 2026, PINS will stop issuing paper enforcement appeal forms. The changes apply to enforcement notice appeals, enforcement notice listed building appeals and lawful development certificate appeals. PINS has also outlined support options for appellants who require assistance with digital submissions, including telephone guidance from its customer service team, professional support from planning agents and community resources such as local libraries.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has announced plans to roll out its new online appeals service across England, following successful pilot testing with five London boroughs. The digital service is intended to streamline the submission and management of appeals, provide local planning authorities (LPAs) with a dashboard for case review and monitoring, and reduce reliance on paper-based processes.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has provided an update on reforms to the consenting procedure for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) under the Planning Act 2008, which aim to accelerate and improve the system. Among other plans, PINS intends to establish a new pre-application service for NSIPs, consisting of three different tiers, and a fast-track route to a decision for projects which use the ‘Enhanced’ level of pre-application service and meet the quality standard.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has updated its 2024 pre-application prospectus for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs). The cost recovery section has been updated to provide clarification on the scoping process.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has updated its guidance on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in casework evidence to clarify how parties should declare the use of AI in casework submissions. The guidance states that parties should provide a short statement confirming that AI was used, explaining what it was used for and setting out the checks carried out to verify the accuracy of the content.

The Planning Inspectorate has updated its guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in appeals, applications and examinations in England and Wales, clarifying from 20 February 2026 that parties must provide a short statement disclosing AI use, the tool used, how it was used and what checks were carried out, while warning that improper use could amount to unreasonable behaviour and lead to an award of costs.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has updated Annex C of Advice Note Eleven on 'Natural England and the Planning Inspectorate'. Advice Note Eleven forms part of a collection of guidance on nationally significant infrastructure projects.

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has updated its guidance on preparing applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) to include a section on disclosure requirements relating to the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The revised guidance states that professional parties may use AI to assist in preparing submission materials but must disclose where AI has been used to create or materially alter any part of a submission. It indicates that failure to provide an appropriate AI disclosure statement could lead to the examining authority rejecting the submission. It also reiterates that professional parties remain responsible for ensuring the accuracy and lawfulness of their submissions. In addition, members of professional bodies must ensure that any use of AI complies with the relevant professional codes of practice.