About the potential major infrastructure projects map

The potential major infrastructure project map is intended to show both the types and possible locations of major infrastructure projects that are likely to pass through the government's decision making structure for major infrastructure projects under the Planning Act 2008. The Act creates a new Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) to make decisions on these projects instead of Ministers.

Whilst the authors have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the map, the map depicts projects that have not yet been submitted to the formal planning process and therefore may not reflect final proposals.

Locations
In some cases, proposals and plans are as yet insufficiently detailed for exact sites to be known. In these cases the locations marked on the map are indicative. The markers for road schemes have been placed at an approximate mid-point of the proposed development.

Timing
The map was last updated in June 2008. Proposed developments that were in a pre-planning stage at this time may have advanced and have been submitted as formal planning applications prior to the creation of the IPC. Given the uncertainty about exactly when and how the IPC will come into force, there is some uncertainty about which developments will pass through the current decision making system, or be abandoned, before the IPC is up and running.

Nuclear
The government supports the inclusion of nuclear power in a future energy mix. Final locations for new nuclear plants and waste storage sites are still unclear – the sites included on the map are the most likely locations for new nuclear sites, and are based on previous government assessments of suitable locations.

Devolution and the map
The map aims to highlight the kinds of projects in England and Wales that are likely to pass through the new Infrastructure Planning Commission. The IPC will make decisions on all major infrastructure projects in England relating to energy, transport, water and waste. In Wales, the IPC's remit will be limited to major energy projects, gas pipelines and harbours.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland the devolved administrations will continue to make planning policies and decisions relating to major infrastructure projects.

Better Planning Coalition
This map was originally developed by CPRE as part of the Better Planning Coalition. Some of the data was collected by coalition partners, a list of which is below: