End of consultation

Consultation requirements removed for DCO projects: what changes from July 2026?

From July 2026, one of the most significant reforms to the Development Consent Order (DCO) regime comes into force under the #Planning and #Infrastructure Act 2025. The longstanding statutory requirement for applicants to carry out pre-application consultation with prescribed consultees and local communities will be removed, marking a fundamental shift in how Nationally Significant #Infrastructure Projects (#NSIPs) are prepared.

The Government's objective is to reduce unnecessary delay and move away from what it considers a "tick-box" consultation process that has often extended the pre-application stage by several years. Instead, promoters will be expected to follow new statutory guidance and demonstrate that they have undertaken proportionate, meaningful engagement appropriate to the scale and complexity of their project.

Importantly, this is not the end of stakeholder engagement. Effective consultation will remain critical to identifying issues early, reducing examination risk and producing robust applications. Publicity requirements will continue, and the Planning Inspectorate's acceptance process will place greater emphasis on whether an application is genuinely ready for examination rather than simply whether prescribed consultation steps have been completed.

For developers, the reforms offer greater flexibility and the potential for shorter pre-application programmes. However, success will depend on designing an engagement strategy that is tailored to each project and capable of demonstrating that key stakeholders have had appropriate opportunities to influence scheme development.

As the new guidance is rolled out alongside the legislative changes, applicants should review their pre-application strategies carefully to ensure they remain aligned with the evolving #DCO regime.