Infrastructure (Wales) Bill

A Welsh Government Bill, introduced by Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change. The Business Committee has remitted the Bill to the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee.

Following the appointment of the First Minister on 20 March, and appointment of the new Cabinet, Julie James MS, Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government & Planning was authorised as Member in Charge of the Bill by the First Minister in accordance with Standing Order 24.4(ii).

About the Bill

The key purposes of the Bill are:

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>>>to establish a unified infrastructure consenting process for specified types of major infrastructure both on and offshore (up to territorial seaward boundary), including energy, transport, waste, water and gas projects. The new form of consent will be known as an “infrastructure consent” (“IC”) and will be issued in relation to projects which are prescribed as a “Significant Infrastructure Project” (“SIP”);

>>>to provide that developers must obtain an IC for a SIP. The IC is intended to contain the full range of authorisations required to enable the development to be implemented; and

>>>to therefore replace, either fully or partially, a number of existing statutory regimes for the consenting of infrastructure projects and rationalise the number of authorisations required to construct and operate such development into a single consent.

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Further details about the Bill (PDF 698KB) can be found in its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 1.5MB).

Current Stage

BillStagePost4

The Bill is currently at Post Stage 4. An explanation of the various stages of Senedd Bills is available in the Guide to the Stages of Public Bills and Acts.

Record of Passage in the Welsh Parliament

The following table sets out the dates for each stage of the Bill’s passage through the Senedd.

¬¬¬Post-Stage 4 (current)

The Counsel General (PDF 161KB) wrote to the Llywydd to advise that he would not be referring the Infrastructure (Wales) Bill to the Supreme Court under Sections 111B and 112 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 – 10 May 2024.

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¬¬¬Stage 4, vote by the Senedd to pass the final text of the Bill (16 April 2024)

Stage 4 proceedings of the Infrastructure (Wales) Bill took place in Plenary on Tuesday 16 April 2024.

The Infrastructure (Wales) Bill (PDF 739KB), as passed

Presiding Officer’s statement in accordance with Section 111A(3) of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (PDF 155KB)

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¬¬¬Stage 3, Plenary consideration of amendments (19 March 2024)

Following the completion of Stage 2 proceedings, Stage 3 commenced on 23 February 2024. The Senedd agreed on 12 March 2024, under Standing Order 26.36, that the order of consideration for Stage 3 proceedings would be:

Sections 1-61; Schedule 1; Sections 62-91; Schedule 2; Sections 92-143; Schedule 3; Sections 144-146; Long Title

Stage 3 proceedings of the Infrastructure (Wales) Bill took place in Plenary on Tuesday 19 March 2024.

Notice of Amendments (PDF 79KB) - 8 March 2024

Welsh Government: Purpose and effect table (PDF 66KB) - 8 March 2024

Notice of Amendments (PDF 126KB) - 11 March 2024 (Updated on 12 March)

Notice of Amendments (PDF 99KB) – 12 March 2024

Revised Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 1MB) – 12 March 2024

Marshalled List of Amendments (PDF 154KB) - 13 March 2024

Grouping of Amendments (PDF 89KB) - 13 March 2024

Addendum to Statement of Policy Intent (PDF 310KB) - 15 March 2024

The Infrastructure (Wales) Bill (PDF 735KB), as amended at Stage 3. (Amendments to the Bill since the previous version are indicated as sidelining in the margin).

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¬¬¬Stage 2, Committee consideration of amendments (6 December 2023 – 22 February 2024)

Stage 2 began on 6 December 2023. The Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee agreed on 31 January 2024, under Standing Order 26.21, that the order of consideration for Stage 2 proceedings would be:

Sections 1-60; Schedule 1; Sections 61-90; Schedule 2; Sections 91-142; Schedule 3; Long Title

Stage 2 consideration took place in Committee on 22 February 2024.

Notice of Amendments (PDF 109KB) - 2 January 2024

Welsh Government: Purpose and effect table (PDF 275KB) - 3 January 2024

Notice of Amendments (PDF 131KB) - 6 February 2024 (Updated on 15 February)

Notice of Amendments (PDF 137KB) - 8 February 2024 (Updated on 15 February)

Notice of Amendments (PDF 111KB) - 9 February 2024

Notice of Amendments (PDF 215KB) - 13 February 2024

Notice of Amendments (PDF 111KB) - 14 February 2024

Welsh Government: Purpose and effect table (PDF 374KB) - 14 February 2024

Marshalled List of Amendments (PDF 399KB) - 16 February 2024

Grouping of Amendments (PDF 101KB) - 19 February 2024

Infrastructure (Wales) Bill (PDF 731KB) – as amended at Stage 2 (amendments to the Bill since the previous version are indicated as sidelining in the margin).

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¬¬¬Financial Resolution

In accordance with Standing Order 26.68 the Presiding Officer indicated that a financial resolution was required for this Bill. Further information about financial resolutions is available in section 3 of the Guide to the scrutiny stages for Public Bills.

A Financial Resolution in relation to the Infrastructure (Wales) Bill was agreed in Plenary on 5 December 2023.

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¬¬¬Stage 1, Committee consideration of the general principles (12 June 2023 – 5 December 2023)

A debate took place in Plenary on 5 December 2023. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was agreed.

Summary of recommendations (PDF 137KB) – December 2023

The Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee laid its report on 24 November 2023. The Committee received a response (PDF 198KB) from the Welsh Government on 15 December 2023.

The Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee considered its approach to Stage 1 consideration on 21 June 2023.

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>>> Consultation responses

>>> Stage 1 Correspondence

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Correspondence from the Minister for Climate Change in relation to communication with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up regarding the Infrastructure (Wales) Bill 27 June 2023 (PDF 655KB)

Correspondence from the Minister for Climate Change to the Chair in relation to the Infrastructure (Wales) Bill 27 October 2023 (PDF 156KB)

Correspondence from the Minister for Climate Change to the Chair in relation to the timetable for implementation of subordinate legislation arising from the Infrastructure (Wales) Bill 9 January 2024 (PDF 172KB)

Correspondence from the Minister for Climate Change to the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee in relation to the Minister of the Crown Consents 22 January 2024 (PDF 403KB)

Committee dates

The Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee will consider the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
21 June 2023	Consideration of approach to Stage 1 scrutiny	Private	Private
6 July 2023	Evidence session with the Minister for Climate Change	Transcript	View meeting
13 September 2023	Evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting
20 September 2023	Evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting
28 September 2023	Evidence sessions	Transcript	View meeting
18 October 2023	Evidence session with the Minister for Climate Change	Transcript	View meeting
15 November 2023	Consideration of draft report	Private	Private
22 November 2023	Consideration of draft report	Private	Private

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee will consider the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
25 September 2023	Ministerial evidence session	Transcript	View meeting

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report on 22 November 2023 (PDF 2.3MB). The Committee received a response (PDF 287KB) from the Welsh Government on 15 December 2023.

The Finance Committee will consider the Bill on the following dates:

Date and Agenda	Purpose of meeting	Transcript	Senedd.TV
28 June 2023	Ministerial evidence session	Transcript	View the meeting

The Finance Committee laid its report (PDF 233KB) on 24 November 2023. The Committee received a response (PDF 147KB) from the Welsh Government on 1 December 2023.

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¬¬¬Bill introduced (12 June 2023)

The Infrastructure (Wales) Bill, as introduced (PDF 698KB)

Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 1.5MB)

Presiding Officer’s Statement: 12 June 2023 (PDF 119KB)

Business Committee’s Report on the timetable for consideration of the Bill (PDF 39KB)

Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) Methodology Paper (PDF 878KB)

Statement of Policy Intent (PDF 674KB)

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Contact information

Clerk: Marc Wyn Jones

Phone: 0300 200 6363