Infrastructure Act 2024

Amends/Commences: 

• Harbours Act 1964

• Highways Act 1980

• Electricity Act 1989

• Town and Country Planning Act 1990

• Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990

• New Roads and Street Works Act 1991

• Transport and Works Act 1992

• Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004

• Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009

• Flood and Water Management Act 2010

• Planning (Wales) Act 2015

• Infrastructure Act 2015

• Housing and Planning Act 2016

• Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023

Comes into force: 3rd June 2024

Jurisdiction: Wales

A new consent process is established for significant onshore and offshore infrastructure projects in Wales involving:

• electricity infrastructure;

• liquified natural gas facilities;

• gas reception facilities;

• hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas and coal gasification;

• open cast coal mining;

• highways;

• railways;

• rail freight interchanges;

• harbour facilities;

• airports;

• dams and reservoirs;

• transfer of water resources;

• waste water treatment plants;

• hazardous waste facilities; and

• radioactive waste geological disposal facilities.

The criteria for projects to be classed as significant are defined in the Act. Significant infrastructure projects require consent from Welsh Ministers through an infrastructure consent order, which may set specific requirements for a project.

Minor changes are made to wider legislation to add reference to infrastructure consent for significant infrastructure projects under the Act.

For more information, click here.