Explanatory note

These Regulations bring into force section 26 and, so far as not already in force, section 28 of the Infrastructure Act 2015 (“the Act”).

Section 26 amends the Planning Act 2008 (“the 2008 Act”) to enable the earlier appointment of examining authorities on applications for development consent for nationally significant infrastructure projects.

Section 28 amends the 2008 Act to allow the Secretary of State to refuse an application for an order to change, or revoke, a development consent order made under that Act if, in particular, the Secretary of State considers that the development that would be authorised as a result of the change should properly be the subject of an application for a new development consent order.

An impact assessment of the effect that the Act will have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector has been produced, and a copy is available at http://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA15-003.pdf. No separate impact assessment has been produced for this instrument.