Explanatory note

These Regulations make amendments to primary legislation that are consequential on Part 1A of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (c. 5) (“the 2004 Act”) inserted by section 58 of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (c. 34). Part 1A of the 2004 Act requires strategic planning authorities to prepare a document called a spatial development strategy.

Regulation 2 amends section 114 of the 2004 Act to make the examination of a spatial development strategy under Part 1A of the 2004 Act a statutory inquiry within the meaning of the Tribunal and Inquiries Act 1992 (c. 53) enabling the Lord Chancellor to make procedural rules in relation to this examination.

Regulation 3 amends paragraph 1 of Schedule 6 to the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c. 23) to require a marine plan authority to notify a strategic planning authority of its intention to prepare a marine plan.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen. An impact assessment was prepared for the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-and-infrastructure-bill-impact-assessment and can be inspected at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.