The Planning Inspectorate has published guidance on how Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) will need to take the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) into account.

It said when reporting and on an NSIP application, the examining authority will need to consider the potential effects of any proposed development on:

• The environmental objectives and measures within the relevant River Basin Management Plans and any supplementary plans.
• The ability of the UK to comply with the WFD.

The advice is non-statutory but should inform planning applications and decisions that impact on water bodies, pollution, sustainable water use and mitigating the effects of floods and droughts.