Secure reforms that simplify infrastructure consenting, set clearer decision timetables and remove duplicated evidence requirements, while preserving proportionate environmental and community safeguards.
Secure reforms that simplify infrastructure consenting, set clearer decision timetables and remove duplicated evidence requirements, while preserving proportionate environmental and community safeguards.
Planning Reform is a high-priority opportunity for Northstar because timely consenting affects infrastructure delivery certainty. We should support the approved position publicly, use the fallback of administrative coordination if statutory reform is unavailable, and avoid advocating a detailed response until the relevant GOV.UK consultation and deadline are verified.
APPROVED · VERSION 1Approved programme · moves can be activated individually
Approved 28 Aug 2026, 23:02. Activate only the moves you want to progress.
INFLUENCE PROGRAMME
Secure reforms that simplify infrastructure consenting, set clearer decision timetables and remove duplicated evidence requirements, while preserving proportionate environmental and community safeguards.
We should not make an external approach until the live GOV.UK policy window is verified. Once confirmed, use validated Northstar evidence to seek clearer deadlines, less duplication and better coordination, with safeguards and the approved red line explicit.
SUCCESS LOOKS LIKEA verified consultation or policy opportunity is addressed through an approved response or briefing, Northstar’s asks are reflected in policy or implementation proposals, and no agreed reform creates parallel approvals, duplicated evidence or disproportionate loss of safeguards.
4priority targets
4sequenced plays
11practical moves
0blocked targets
0targets moved
INFLUENCE MAP
Who needs to move
Baseline, desired movement and the next evidence-led move.
PP
KNOWN STAKEHOLDER
Planning Policy Directorate
Central government policy directorate responsible for planning reform and infrastructure consenting · Central Government
Active
CURRENT
Recorded as supportive, high influence and high relevance, with a warm relationship; no recent interaction or engagement is recorded.
→
DESIRED MOVEMENT
Invite an approved technical briefing and recognise clearer decision timetables, reduced duplication and coordinated pre-application processes as practical reform priorities.
APPROACH
Verify the live policy source first, then share a concise evidence-led proposition covering the preferred position, fallback and safeguards.
NEXT MOVEConfirm the directorate’s current policy window and appropriate engagement route.Public Affairs · After source verification and internal sign-off
EVIDENCE OF MOVEMENT
Meeting or briefing accepted, substantive feedback received, or Northstar’s asks reflected in draft guidance, consultation analysis or policy text.
Relevant government department and ministers responsible for planning and infrastructure consenting
Policy and decision-makers able to shape statutory and administrative reform
Active
CURRENT
No individual stakeholder record, relationship history or confirmed stance is available; influence and relevance are suggested by the approved strategy.
→
DESIRED MOVEMENT
Support a reform package that improves delivery certainty without creating parallel approvals or weakening necessary environmental and community safeguards.
APPROACH
Prepare a tightly targeted proposition only after the live proposals are mapped and leadership approves the asks; lead with delivery certainty and proportionate safeguards.
NEXT MOVEMap confirmed proposals to the approved asks, fallback and red line.Public Affairs · After proposal assessment and leadership approval
EVIDENCE OF MOVEMENT
Relevant officials or ministers acknowledge the proposition, request further evidence, or alter draft policy or implementation arrangements consistently with the asks.
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INSTITUTIONAL TARGET
Planning Inspectorate and other consenting bodies
Institutions involved in application handling, examination and decision coordination
Active
CURRENT
No stakeholder record, relationship history or stance is available; relevance is suggested because these bodies handle consenting processes.
→
DESIRED MOVEMENT
Identify and support administrative changes that reduce duplicated evidence, improve coordination and make decision timetables more predictable.
APPROACH
Use an approved technical briefing or evidence discussion only where the confirmed reforms directly affect their processes.
NEXT MOVEIdentify which consenting bodies are covered by the confirmed proposals.Public Affairs · After source verification and internal approval
EVIDENCE OF MOVEMENT
Operational feedback identifies feasible coordination changes, or published arrangements reduce duplication and clarify process ownership.
＋
INSTITUTIONAL TARGET
Parliamentary committees and interested parliamentarians
Potential scrutinising and evidence-gathering audiences
Active
CURRENT
The EN-8 nuclear fusion inquiry is recorded as a primary source, but its scope and 28 August 2026, 22:59 deadline remain unconfirmed; no relationship history is recorded.
→
DESIRED MOVEMENT
Understand that faster consenting and proportionate environmental and community safeguards can be pursued together through clearer processes and evidence requirements.
APPROACH
Check whether the inquiry remains open and relevant before considering written evidence or a briefing; do not submit without human approval.
NEXT MOVEVerify the inquiry scope, deadline and submission route against the official committee page.Public Affairs · Immediate check; engagement only if relevance and deadline are confirmed
EVIDENCE OF MOVEMENT
A relevant approved submission is accepted, committee questions reflect the proposition, or parliamentarians seek follow-up evidence.
DELIVERY SEQUENCE
The moves to make
Each move remains proposed until you add it to Work.
01
Immediate; before external contact
Close the policy-window gap
Establish the live proposals, deadline and relevant route before any external response or engagement.
Ready
Obtain the primary GOV.UK consultation or policy source, publication date and response deadline
This is the blocker to defensible proposal-level analysis and response planning.
PA Intelligence/source owner · Immediate
Planning Policy Directorate
Ready
Verify the EN-8 inquiry scope, deadline and submission route
The recorded milestone may create an immediate opportunity, but it is not yet confirmed.
Public Affairs · Before committing to written evidence
Parliamentary committees and interested parliamentarians
Ready
Complete the existing Planning Reform leadership briefing
Leadership needs a concise basis for prioritisation before external engagement is proposed.
Alex · After source verification
Planning Policy DirectorateRelevant government department and ministers responsible for planning and infrastructure consenting
02
Within five working days of source verification
Build the delivery case
Turn the approved position into a specific, evidence-backed proposition linked to infrastructure delivery and investment certainty.
Ready
Request anonymised examples of consenting delays and duplicated evidence
Project-level examples will make the case credible without relying on broad claims.
Operations · Within three working days of source verification
Planning Policy DirectoratePlanning Inspectorate and other consenting bodies
Ready
Assess delivery and investment certainty impacts
Finance can quantify or qualify the consequences of uncertain timetables and duplication.
Finance · Within five working days of source verification
Relevant government department and ministers responsible for planning and infrastructure consenting
Ready
Map each confirmed proposal against the preferred position, fallback and red line
This separates support, amendments and opposition without inventing a view on unreviewed proposals.
Public Affairs · Within five working days of source verification
Planning Policy DirectorateRelevant government department and ministers responsible for planning and infrastructure consenting
03
After evidence and proposal assessment
Secure approval and make the approach
Obtain agreement on the specific asks, then engage the highest-value audiences through controlled channels.
Ready
Present the preferred position, fallback and red line to leadership
External correspondence, briefings and public statements require separate human approval.
Alex · After evidence review
Planning Policy DirectorateRelevant government department and ministers responsible for planning and infrastructure consenting
Ready
Prepare an approval-ready consultation or inquiry response if a live opportunity is confirmed
The response must answer the actual questions and meet the verified deadline.
Public Affairs · After leadership sign-off
Planning Policy DirectorateParliamentary committees and interested parliamentarians
Ready
Propose an approved technical briefing to the Planning Policy Directorate
The warm, high-influence relationship offers the clearest route to test and refine the asks.
Public Affairs · After leadership sign-off
Planning Policy Directorate
04
Monthly and at each confirmed policy milestone
Track policy and delivery movement
Test whether engagement changes the reform package and remains connected to operational constraints.
Ready
Record changes to deadlines, evidence requirements and coordination arrangements
These are the specific outcomes Northstar needs to win or protect.
Public Affairs · At each policy update
Planning Policy DirectorateRelevant government department and ministers responsible for planning and infrastructure consentingPlanning Inspectorate and other consenting bodies
Ready
Review project evidence against the agreed reform asks
This keeps the programme anchored to real delivery constraints and tests whether the issue remains material.
Operations · Quarterly
Planning Policy DirectorateRelevant government department and ministers responsible for planning and infrastructure consenting
MEASUREMENT
How we know it is working
Evidence of change, not a tally of activity.
1
A live, relevant consultation or inquiry opportunity is verified and addressed through an approved submission where appropriate.
Baseline: The primary GOV.UK source and EN-8 scope and deadline are not confirmed.
Target: Verified policy window, approved response route and submission by the confirmed deadline where relevant.
Evidence: Primary GOV.UK or parliamentary publication, approved final response and submission confirmation.
2
Northstar’s preferred asks or fallback are reflected in policy or implementation arrangements.
Baseline: No proposal-level assessment or external policy movement is recorded.
Target: Clearer decision timetables, reduced duplicated evidence and improved coordination appear in draft or final policy, guidance or implementation arrangements.
Evidence: Published consultation response, final policy text, guidance or authoritative departmental update.
3
The Planning Policy Directorate and relevant delivery bodies engage substantively with the proposition.
Baseline: Planning Policy Directorate is supportive with a warm relationship, but no recent interaction is recorded; other bodies are untested.
Target: An approved briefing is accepted and produces substantive feedback, follow-up requests or identifiable changes to the reform design.
Evidence: Meeting record, written feedback, follow-up request or tracked change in policy materials.
4
Internal evidence supports external claims about delivery and investment certainty.
Baseline: No validated Operations or Finance examples or quantified ranges are available.
Target: Operations and Finance sign off anonymised examples or quantified ranges for leadership approval.
Evidence: Signed-off internal evidence pack and leadership decision.
5
The approved red line and safeguards are protected.
Baseline: The live proposals have not been assessed against the red line or safeguard requirement.
Target: Every material proposal is assessed and no agreed position supports parallel approvals, duplicated evidence or disproportionate removal of safeguards.
Evidence: Proposal-by-proposal assessment, Legal review where needed and approved position log.
MOVEMENT LEDGER
What has changed
Every meaningful update also feeds the Issue outcomes and Weekly Review.
◎No movement recorded yet
Use a target's “Record movement” control when evidence shows progress, learning or a blocker.