Solar farms the size of villages, new reservoirs, motorway junctions and power lines are not decided by your local council. The UK's biggest schemes go through national systems with their own rules, timetables and chances to have your say.
This guide explains how national infrastructure projects are decided in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and how to follow the ones near you. Planning Signal tracks 735 national projects across the UK, 272 of them still in play.
What counts as a national project
A project goes through a national route when it is big enough, or important enough, that Parliament or a devolved government has decided a minister should make the call. Typical examples are:
- large solar, wind and battery storage schemes
- power stations and electricity lines
- reservoirs and major water and waste water works
- motorways, trunk roads, railways and airports
- large waste facilities
Each nation sets its own thresholds. A scheme that goes to the council in one place can go to a minister just over the border.
England: nationally significant infrastructure projects
In England the biggest schemes are nationally significant infrastructure projects under the Planning Act 2008. Instead of planning permission they need a development consent order.
The Planning Inspectorate examines the application and the relevant Secretary of State decides. The local council is consulted and writes a local impact report, but it does not make the decision.
The process has six stages:
- Pre-application: the developer prepares the scheme and engages local people.
- Acceptance: 28 days for the Inspectorate to decide whether the application can go ahead.
- Pre-examination: the registration window opens. This is when you sign up to have your say.
- Examination: up to 6 months of written evidence and hearings.
- Recommendation and decision: the Inspectorate reports within 3 months and the Secretary of State decides within a further 3 months.
- After the decision: a 6-week window for a legal challenge in the High Court.
From submission to decision usually takes about 18 months. Our guide on how to have your say on a national project walks through each stage.
Wales: Developments of National Significance
In Wales, many large schemes are Developments of National Significance under the Planning (Wales) Act 2015. Planning and Environment Decisions Wales examines the application and the Welsh Ministers decide.
The Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024 creates a single consent for significant infrastructure projects in Wales, which replaces the Development of National Significance route for many project types as it comes into force. The very largest energy schemes in Wales are still decided through the UK system.
See every Welsh project on our Wales national projects list.
Scotland: section 36 consents
In Scotland, power stations over 50 megawatts need consent from the Scottish Ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. Overhead power lines need consent under section 37. The Energy Consents Unit handles the application.
The local planning authority is a statutory consultee with real weight. If it objects and does not withdraw its objection, the Ministers must hold a public inquiry before deciding.
Browse every Scottish case on our Scotland national projects list.
Northern Ireland: regionally significant development
In Northern Ireland, the largest schemes are regionally significant developments under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. The Department for Infrastructure decides them, not the council.
Developers must consult the community before they apply. They give the Department notice at least 12 weeks before submitting the application.
Follow them on our Northern Ireland national projects list.
Where the big projects are
Planning Signal tracks 291 projects in England, 397 in Scotland, 35 in Wales and 12 in Northern Ireland. Each one has its own page with its stage, its site boundary and the dates that matter.
Two you can follow today: White Horse Reservoir in Oxfordshire and Cearn Solar Farm.
Stay ahead of projects near you
National projects move slowly, then all at once. A registration window can open and close within a month. Press Get updates on any project page and we will email you when it changes stage, and our free planning alerts include national project stage changes for your area.
Frequently asked questions
Can my local council stop a national infrastructure project?
No. The council does not decide. It gives evidence, and in England writes a local impact report that the examiners must consider. In Scotland a council objection triggers a public inquiry.
Who decides solar farms?
It depends on the size and the nation. Smaller solar farms go to the local council. Larger ones go to the UK Secretary of State in England, the Welsh Ministers in Wales, the Scottish Ministers in Scotland and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
How long does a national project take to decide?
In England, about 18 months from submission to decision. The developer usually spends years on the scheme before it is submitted.
Can I object to a national project?
Yes, and you can support one too. In England you must register as an interested party during the registration window to take part in the examination.