Consultation on streamlining infrastructure planning

Closes 27 Oct 2025

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Reforming NSIP Services: the fast-track process

43. Do you agree that there remains merit for applicants in a fast-track process, based on shortened examinations delivered through primary legislation and with the process set out in guidance, that is designed to deliver a faster process for certain projects? If yes, give reasons why it is not being used currently; if not, please give reasons.

Please provide your views.

44. The current fast-track guidance designed to deliver upfront certainty for making decisions within 12 months of applications being accepted. Do you consider it fit for purpose? If not, please give reasons.

Please provide your views.

45. How do you think the existing fast-track process could be amended to support delivery of government’s priorities, and be more widely applied to applicants? We are also interested in views on how government should determine and communicate which projects it considers to be a priority for taking through the pre-application, examination and decision process.

Please provide your views.

46. In what ways can government and its agencies best support applicants and relevant stakeholders to achieve robust, and faster decision timeframes during the pre-application, examination and decision process? Please indicate your views on the following potential changes, covered in this section. Please suggest practical measures, tools, or desired policy changes, and give reasons to support these.

(a) Adapting the existing process so that it supports those projects which are considered by government to be a priority for fast-tracking.

Please provide your views. 

 

 (b) Developing an approach based on a more proactive role for government and its agencies facilitating fast-track projects through the pre-application, examination and decision process.  

Please provide your views. 

(c) Support priority projects to be fast-tracked, by reducing/ removing applicant choice from the decision about whether to apply a fast-track process.

Please provide your views. 

(d) Introduce greater flexibility by adapting the current guidance to make it clear that the priority level of the project will form part of an overall assessment about the eligibility of the project for the fast-track process. 

Please provide your views. 

47. Do you have any other comments or suggestions regarding the fast-track process or related policies?

Please provide your views.