RSK Group has teamed up with planning and development experts GL Hearn to host a free seminar on the impact of the Planning Act 2008 on new energy developments.

The new Act, which received Royal Assent in November last year, has substantially reconfigured previous legislation to bolster the UK's ability to compete in global markets and deliver new green infrastructure.

Under a new integrated regime, ‘big’ decisions will occur in less than a year, public consultation will be increased threefold, and transparency and accountability will be ramped up.

Running from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on 30 April, RSK Group and GL Hearn’s unique seminar is a symposium of some of the most authoritative experts on UK energy development.

Unmissable insight and constructive debate will be prompted through talks such as:

• New directions for energy utilities development (Sue Sljivic, RSK Group director)

• Challenges to development of the next generation of power supply (wind, biomass, nuclear, combined heat and power)

• The role of environmental assessment in the Planning Act consent

• National planning regime (Michael Lee-Wright, GL Hearn environmental planning director)

• Recent developments in the planning (development control) system

• Pre-application, consultation and validation requirements

• Consequent demands on promoters of development and effects on timescales, costs etc.

• Utilities planning (Tony Lamb, GL Hearn planning director)

• Mechanics of the new system for major infrastructure projects

• Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) and National Policy Statements

• Timetable for introduction

• Importance of involvement in consultation

• National policy overview (Kim Gauld-Clark, DECC assistant director, Energy Planning Reform)

• National policy overview and Government's objectives concerning security, diversity and deliverability of energy supply

• Importance of the Planning Act in achieving objectives

• Scope and aims of the Energy National Policy Statements

• A utility developer's perspective (Hector Pearson, National Grid planning policy manager)

• Will the Act help strategic energy issues in need of resolution?

• Programming implications (e.g. pre-application consultation procedures)

• Taking major projects to the IPC

• Implications for renewable targets (John Ainslie,  npower renewables head of consents)

• The scale of the challenge

• What does the industry need from the planning and consenting system?

• Key factors determining consenting decisions for onshore wind farm proposals

• Importance of the Energy NPSs in providing a consistent, predictable, facilitative planning regime

• Will the IPC and NPS regime make a difference?

• A political commentary (Roger Milne, Utility Week)

• What might the future hold?

• Possible consequences of Government changes.

Notes for editors

For more information or to set up an interview, contact Neil Jaques (njaques@rsk.co.uk, 0141 332 8440/07917 425212).

About the seminar
The free seminar takes place on 30 April, running from 3pm to 6pm, followed by a reception that concludes at 8pm.
The venue is The Building Centre, Store Street, London WC1E 7BT
To attend, contact GL Hearn marketing manager Laura Woollard (020 7851 4926, laura_woollard@glhearn.com)

About the Planning Act 2008
The Planning Act 2008 creates a new integrated planning system for major infrastructure and has lead to the formation of the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC), which will determine nationally significant projects.

The new system will unify the existing eight regimes for nationally significant infrastructure into a single consent regime

It will give legal force to a new unified consents regime and a new requirement for a suite of National Policy Statements (NPSs) setting out government planning policy in such areas as nuclear development and airport expansion.

The new legislation also gives ministers powers to bring in a new tax, the Community Infrastructure Levy, and makes a number of changes to existing development control and development plan arrangements.

In 2009, the Government will set out a timetable for setting up the IPC and consult on the detailed regulations and NPSs required to implement the new system.

Scrutiny of the first NPSs in draft form is expected to begin in the summer of 2009 with the first tranche designated in 2010.

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1115316510683.html

About RSK Group
RSK Group is one of Europe's fastest growing multidisciplinary environmental consultancies with 950 staff across 46 strategic locations in the UK, Europe, the Gulf and Caspian regions. RSK offers clients a one-stop shop for environmental services and a peerless dedication to best practice, which includes maintaining certification to the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards for quality, environmental and health and safety management.
www.rsk.co.uk

About GL Hearn
GL Hearn is a specialist property, planning and development consultancy, based in the UK, with a national offices network and over 200 staff. Drawing on a wealth of experience and industry knowledge, the firm provides informed and innovative advice in two key areas: property development and managing and maximising assets. We provide our clients with informed and innovative property advice that offers real business benefits. We take an integrated approach to property management and development, and give clients a tailored approach to property issues.
www.glhearn.com