The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (Commencement No. 4 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2026

• Citation: S.I. 2026/641
• Sections: 7

Section 1 Citation and interpretation

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (Commencement No. 4 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2026.

(2) In these Regulations the “ 2025 Act ” means the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025.

Section 2 Provisions of the 2025 Act coming into force the day after the day on which the Regulations are made

The following provisions of the 2025 Act come into force on the day after the day on which these Regulations are made—

(a) section 57 (provision of advice by Natural England to public authorities);

(b) section 104 (exercise of transport functions and transfer schemes).

Section 3 Provisions of the 2025 Act coming into force on 24th July 2026

The following provisions of the 2025 Act come into force on 24th July 2026—

(a) section 4 (power to disapply requirement for development consent);

(b) section 5 (applications for development consent: removal of certain pre-application requirements);

(c) section 6 (applications for development consent: changes related to section 5);

(d) section 7 (applications for development consent: acceptance stage);

(e) section 8 (applications for development consent: local impact reports and representations);

(f) section 9 (examination of applications for development consent);

(g) section 11 (Planning Act 2008: right to enter and survey land).

Section 4 Provisions of the 2025 Act coming into force on 1st September 2026

The following provisions of the 2025 Act come into force on 1st September 2026—

(a) section 33 (deadlines for consultation and decisions on certain orders and schemes);

(b) section 36 (replacement of model clauses with guidance).

Section 5 Provision of the 2025 Act coming into force on 31st October 2026

Section 54(2) of the 2025 Act (delegation of planning decisions in England) comes into force on 31st October 2026.

Section 6 Transitional provision in relation to section 7 of the 2025 Act

Where an applicant has notified the Secretary of State of a proposed application under section 46 (1) of the Planning Act 2008 before the date on which sections 5, 6 and 7 of the 2025 Act come into force, section 55 of the Planning Act 2008 is to be read as if paragraph (3)(ca) is omitted.

Section 7 Transitional provision in relation to section 33 of the 2025 Act

(1) The amendments made to the Highways Act 1980 by section 33 of the 2025 Act do not apply in relation to an order or scheme where the date in paragraph (2) is before the date on which that section comes into force.

(2) The date in this paragraph is the date on which—

(a) in the case of an order, notice of the order or proposed order is first published pursuant to paragraph 1 , 1A or 2 (as applicable) of Schedule 1 to the Highways Act 1980 , or

(b) in the case of a scheme, notice of the scheme or proposed scheme is first published pursuant to paragraph 10 of Schedule 1 to the Highways Act 1980 .