Part 6: Planning in England Nationally significant infrastructure projects Section 160: Development consent for projects that involve housing
Section 160 enables the Secretary of State to grant development consent for housing alongside a nationally significant infrastructure project in England. The housing must be on the same site, next to, or close to the relevant infrastructure development, or otherwise associated with it (see subsection (4)).
	Section 160 also provides that the Secretary of State must consider factors set out in guidance when determining whether to grant consent for related housing development.
	Draft guidance was published by the Department for Communities and Local Government during the passage of the Bill through Parliament. The draft guidance refers to housing which is functionally linked to the infrastructure project (for example, housing that is required for workers during the construction phase of an infrastructure project or for key workers during the operation phase) and housing where there is no functional link but there is a close geographical link between the housing and the infrastructure project.