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Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024

2024 asc 3 · Enacted 3 June 2024 · Extends to England and Wales

Not fully up to date. 14 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 16 March 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 1(c)words substitutedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 3 para. 71
s. 36(4)(a)word omittedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 3 para. 72
s. 75(6)words substitutedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 3 para. 73
s. 98omittedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 3 para. 74
s. 99omittedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 3 para. 74
s. 125(7)words substitutedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 3 para. 75
s. 133(1)words substitutedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 3 para. 76
s. 143(1)words substitutedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 3 para. 77(a)
s. 143(1)words substitutedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 3 para. 77(b)
s. 143(1)words substitutedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 3 para. 77(c)
s. 143(1)words substitutedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 3 para. 77(d)
Sch. 3 para. 4 and cross-headingomittedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 3 para. 78(a)
Sch. 3 para. 9 and cross-headingomittedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 3 para. 78(b)
Sch. 3 para. 12 and cross-headingomittedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 3 para. 78(c)

An Act of Senedd Cymru to reform the law governing the development of significant infrastructure in Wales and the Welsh marine area; and for connected purposes.

[3 June 2024]

Having been passed by Senedd Cymru and having received the assent of His Majesty, it is enacted as follows:

Contents

  1. Part 1: SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
  2. Key term
  3. 1Meaning of “significant infrastructure project”
  4. Energy
  5. 2Electricity infrastructure
  6. 3Liquified natural gas facilities
  7. 4Gas reception facilities
  8. 5Hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas and coal gasification
  9. 6Open cast coal mining
  10. Transport
  11. 7Highways
  12. 8Railways
  13. 9Rail freight interchanges
  14. 10Harbour facilities
  15. 11Airports
  16. Water
  17. 12Dams and reservoirs
  18. 13Transfer of water resources
  19. Waste water
  20. 14Waste water treatment plants
  21. Waste
  22. 15Hazardous waste facilities
  23. 16Radioactive waste geological disposal facilities
  24. Power to amend
  25. 17Power to add, vary or remove projects
  26. Interpretation
  27. 18Cross-border projects
  28. Part 2: REQUIREMENT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE CONSENT
  29. The requirement
  30. 19Requirement for infrastructure consent
  31. 20Effect of requirement for infrastructure consent
  32. Powers to change the requirement or its effect
  33. 21Power to add or remove types of consent
  34. 22Directions specifying development as a significant infrastructure project
  35. 23Directions for applications to be treated as applications for infrastructure consent
  36. 24Directions specifying that development is not a significant infrastructure project
  37. 25Directions under section 22 to 24: general provision
  38. 26Directions under section 22: regulations about procedure
  39. Part 3: APPLYING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE CONSENT
  40. Assistance for applicants
  41. 27Provision of pre-application services
  42. 28Obtaining information about interests in land
  43. Pre-application procedure
  44. 29Notice of proposed application
  45. 30Pre-application consultation and publicity
  46. 31Change in the person who proposes to apply for infrastructure consent
  47. Application procedure
  48. 32Applying for infrastructure consent
  49. 33Deciding on the validity of an application and notifying the applicant
  50. 34Notice of accepted applications and publicity
  51. 35Regulations about notices and publicity
  52. 36Local impact reports
  53. 37Marine impact reports
  54. 38Notice of persons interested in land to which compulsory acquisition request relates
  55. 39Consultation post-application in relation to compulsory acquisition
  56. Part 4: EXAMINING APPLICATIONS
  57. Appointing an examining authority
  58. 40Appointing an examining authority
  59. Examining applications
  60. 41Examining authority to examine applications
  61. 42Choice of inquiry, hearing or written procedure
  62. 43Open-floor hearings
  63. 44Examination procedure
  64. 45Power to enter land in connection with examination
  65. 46Power to enter Crown land in connection with examination
  66. 47Power of examining authority to hold local inquiry
  67. 48Access to evidence at inquiry
  68. 49Payment of appointed representative where access to evidence restricted
  69. 50Assessors
  70. 51Legal assistance
  71. 52Reports by examining authority
  72. 53Power to direct further examination
  73. 54Orders relating to costs of parties on examination proceedings
  74. Part 5: DECIDING APPLICATIONS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE CONSENT
  75. Decision maker
  76. 55Function of deciding applications
  77. Statutory policies and other relevant matters‍‍
  78. 56Deciding applications: general considerations
  79. 57Duty to have regard to specific matters when making decisions on applications
  80. 58Matters that may be disregarded when making decisions on applications
  81. Timetable
  82. 59Timetable for deciding application for infrastructure consent
  83. The decision
  84. 60Grant or refusal of infrastructure consent
  85. 61Development for which infrastructure consent may be granted
  86. 62Reasons for decision to grant or refuse infrastructure consent
  87. Part 6: INFRASTRUCTURE CONSENT ORDERS
  88. Provision in orders: general
  89. 63What may be included in an infrastructure consent order
  90. Provision in orders authorising compulsory acquisition
  91. 64Purpose for which compulsory acquisition may be authorised
  92. 65Land to which authorisation of compulsory acquisition can relate
  93. 66Application of compulsory acquisition provisions
  94. 67Compensation for compulsory acquisition
  95. 68Statutory undertakers’ land
  96. 69National Trust land
  97. 70Commons, open spaces etc: compulsory acquisition of land
  98. 71Commons, open spaces etc: compulsory acquisition of rights over land
  99. 72Notice of authorisation of compulsory acquisition
  100. Provision in orders: specific limitations and powers
  101. 73Public rights of way
  102. 74Power to override easements and other rights
  103. 75Extinguishment of rights, and removal of apparatus, of statutory undertakers etc.
  104. 76Crown land
  105. 77Operation of generating stations
  106. 78Keeping electric lines installed above ground
  107. 79Diversion of watercourses
  108. 80Highways
  109. 81Harbours
  110. 82Discharge of water
  111. 83Deemed consent under a marine licence
  112. 84Removing consent requirements and deeming consents
  113. Procedure for infrastructure consent orders
  114. 85Infrastructure consent orders: publication and procedure
  115. Changing and revoking infrastructure consent orders etc.
  116. 86Meaning of “decision documents” and “error”
  117. 87Power to correct errors in decision documents
  118. 88Correcting errors: regulations
  119. Making changes to, and revoking, infrastructure consent orders
  120. 89Definitions
  121. 90Power to change or revoke infrastructure consent orders
  122. 91Procedure: changing and revoking infrastructure consent orders
  123. 92Changing and revoking infrastructure consent orders: formalities
  124. 93Changing or revoking an infrastructure consent order: compensation
  125. Effect of infrastructure consent orders
  126. 94Duration of infrastructure consent order
  127. 95When development begins
  128. 96Legal challenges
  129. 97Benefit of infrastructure consent order
  130. 98Planning obligations
  131. 99Blighted land
  132. 100Nuisance: statutory authority
  133. 101Compensation in case where defence of statutory authority applies
  134. Interpretation
  135. 102Meaning of “land”
  136. Part 7: ENFORCEMENT
  137. Offences
  138. 103Development without infrastructure consent
  139. 104Breach of terms of infrastructure consent order
  140. 105Time limits
  141. 106Powers to enter land for enforcement purposes
  142. 107Warrant to enter land
  143. 108Rights of entry: supplementary provisions
  144. 109Rights of entry: Crown land
  145. 110Marine enforcement powers
  146. Information notices
  147. 111Power to require information
  148. 112Offences of failing to comply with information notices
  149. Notices of unauthorised development
  150. 113Notice of unauthorised development
  151. Compliance with notices of unauthorised development
  152. 114Order to permit steps required by notice of unauthorised development
  153. 115Power to enter land and take steps required by notice of unauthorised development
  154. 116Recovery of costs of compliance with notice of unauthorised development
  155. Temporary stop notices
  156. 117Power to issue temporary stop notice
  157. 118Restrictions on power to issue temporary stop notice
  158. 119Duration etc. of temporary stop notice
  159. 120Offence of breaching temporary stop notice
  160. 121Compensation for loss due to notice
  161. 122Injunction to restrain prohibited activity
  162. General
  163. 123Meaning of “relevant planning authority”
  164. Part 8: SUPPLEMENTARY FUNCTIONS
  165. Fees
  166. 124Fees for performance of infrastructure consent functions and services
  167. Right of entry
  168. 125Powers of entry to survey land
  169. 126Powers of entry to survey land: Crown land
  170. Infrastructure policy statements
  171. 127Infrastructure policy statements
  172. Register of applications and pre-application services
  173. 128Register of applications and pre-application services
  174. Statutory consultees
  175. 129Power to consult and duty to respond to consultation
  176. Welsh Ministers’ directions
  177. 130Directions to public authorities
  178. 131Power to disapply requirements
  179. Regulations about Crown applications
  180. 132Applications by the Crown
  181. Part 9: GENERAL PROVISIONS
  182. Development
  183. 133Meaning of “development”
  184. Crown land
  185. 134Crown land and “the appropriate Crown authority”
  186. Offences
  187. 135Offences by bodies corporate
  188. Giving notices and other documents
  189. 136Giving notices and other documents
  190. 137Giving notices etc. to persons occupying or with an interest in land
  191. 138Giving documents to the Crown
  192. General
  193. 139Duties to publish
  194. 140Regulations and orders: restrictions
  195. 141Regulations: procedure
  196. 142Directions: general
  197. 143General interpretation
  198. 144Power to make consequential and transitional provision etc.
  199. 145Consequential amendments and repeals
  200. 146Transitional and saving provision
  201. 147Coming into force
  202. 148Short title
  203. Schedule 1: PROVISION RELATING TO, OR TO MATTERS ANCILLARY TO, DEVELOPMENT
  204. Part 1: THE MATTERS
  205. 1Paragraph 1
  206. 2Paragraph 2
  207. 3Paragraph 3
  208. 4Paragraph 4
  209. 5Paragraph 5
  210. 6Paragraph 6
  211. 7Paragraph 7
  212. 8Paragraph 8
  213. 9Paragraph 9
  214. 10Paragraph 10
  215. 11Paragraph 11
  216. 12Paragraph 12
  217. 13Paragraph 13
  218. 14Paragraph 14
  219. 15Paragraph 15
  220. 16Paragraph 16
  221. 17Paragraph 17
  222. 18Paragraph 18
  223. 19Paragraph 19
  224. 20Paragraph 20
  225. 21Paragraph 21
  226. 22Paragraph 22
  227. 23Paragraph 23
  228. 24Paragraph 24
  229. 25Paragraph 25
  230. 26Paragraph 26
  231. 27Paragraph 27
  232. 28Paragraph 28
  233. 29Paragraph 29
  234. 30Paragraph 30
  235. 31Paragraph 31
  236. 32Paragraph 32
  237. 33Paragraph 33
  238. 34Paragraph 34
  239. 35Paragraph 35
  240. Part 2: INTERPRETATION
  241. 36Paragraph 36
  242. Schedule 2: COMPENSATION FOR CHANGING OR REVOKING INFRASTRUCTURE CONSENT ORDERS
  243. 1Changing or revoking an infrastructure consent order: compensation
  244. 2Compensation for depreciation: introduction and key terms
  245. 3Apportionment of compensation for depreciation and determination of disputes
  246. 4Notice of compensation for depreciation
  247. 5Development not to be carried out until compensation paid or secured
  248. 6Amount recoverable by Welsh Ministers in respect of compensation
  249. 7Payment etc. of amount recoverable
  250. 8Recovery of compensation from acquiring authority on compulsory acquisition or sale
  251. 9General provisions about compensation for depreciation
  252. 10Determination of claims for compensation
  253. Schedule 3: CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS AND REPEALS
  254. 1Harbours Act 1964 (c. 40)
  255. 2Highways Act 1980 (c. 66)
  256. 3Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29)
  257. 4Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (c. 8)
  258. 5Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990 (c. 10)
  259. 6New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22)
  260. 7Transport and Works Act 1992 (c. 42)
  261. 8Coal Industry Act 1994 (c. 21)
  262. 9Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (c. 5)
  263. 10Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c. 23)
  264. 11Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (c. 29)
  265. 12Planning (Wales) Act 2015 (anaw 4)
  266. 13Infrastructure Act 2015 (c. 7)
  267. 14Housing and Planning Act 2016 (c. 22)
  268. 15Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 (asc 3)