Nationally significant infrastructure projects: advice on habitats regulations assessments

Publication Year

2026

Document Status

Current

Abstract

Provides advice on the Habitats Regulations assessments with regard to applicant and decision maker obligations in relation to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). Covers: what a Habitats Regulations Assessment is; legislation and guidance; the Habitats Regulations Assessment process; an applicant's Habitats Regulations Assessment; stage 1: screening for likely significant effects; stage 2: appropriate assessment - the 'integrity test'; stage 3: derogations; acceptance and examination; the Report on the Implications for European Sites (RIES); other considerations; and presentation of information.

Document History

Last updated: 14 July 2026 - Updated preamble to remove reference to publication of advice page(s) under s51 of the Planning Act 2008. Sourced from: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nationally-significant-infrastructure-projects-advice-on-habitats-regulations-assessments and converted to pdf. Whilst we endeavour to capture all updates it is subject to receiving alerts from the publisher and there may be formatting or punctuation changes applied to the html version that do not affect the text. Document type: guidance. First published: 20 September 2024.

Publisher Information