Why it matters: The council says proposed changes to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill could weaken community consultation requirements for major infrastructure projects.
The details: Suffolk County Council hosted delegates from across the country at its national infrastructure conference, where speakers from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, legal experts, and industry leaders discussed the emerging Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
The council and other speakers raised concerns that proposed changes to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) regime were not sufficiently robust to manage significant changes which NSIPs can bring to host communities.
Particular concern was raised about the proposed replacement of a statutory duty for pre-submission consultation with statutory guidance.
What they're saying: Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Devolution, Local Government Reform and NSIPs, said: "Suffolk has one of the greatest concentrations of NSIPs in the UK, and for me it's important to ensure that local communities are considered first-and-foremost by local authorities, project promoters and government.
"Today there were some robust discussions around government's proposals to scrap the statutory duty to consult for NSIPs. This is something that the county council fundamentally disagrees with - our communities need more and better consultation, not less."
What's next: The council says it welcomes any opportunity to further engage with Government to share its expertise on meaningful engagement. Following this year's success, the conference will take place again in June 2026.
The bottom line: Suffolk County Council is challenging Government proposals it believes could reduce community consultation on major projects affecting local areas.
