Commentary on Sections Nationally significant infrastructure projects
130.The Planning Act 2008 (“the 2008 Act”) established the regime governing applications in respect of nationally significant infrastructure projects.  In 2013, the Government launched a review of the regime, which concluded that it is operating well and that major change is both unnecessary and undesirable. The review did, however, identify a number of minor improvements which would strengthen the regime further.  Some of these can only be implemented by amendment of the 2008 Act.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/306404/Government_response_to_the_consultation_on_the_review_of_the_Nationally_Significant_Infrastructure_Planning_Regime.pdf
131.Sections 26 and 27 make changes to the procedures under which a major infrastructure project under the 2008 Act is examined.  The 2008 Act provides for an “Examining authority” to carry out examination of a project. The Examining authority may be a single person, or a panel of three, four or five people.  Section 26 provides for the Examining authority to be appointed earlier in the process than at present.  Section 27 provides that examinations of projects may, additionally, be conducted by panels of two people.
132.The Secretary of State has powers to make changes to, or to revoke, a development consent order which grants permission in respect of a major infrastructure project. Section 28 makes amendments to the powers under which the Secretary of State may make regulations governing the way in which applications to make such a change are considered.