Three commissioners to join team considering applications for major projects from March next year

Three new commissioners have been announced for the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC).

Katharine Bryan, former chief executive of Northern Ireland Water, Gideon Amos OBE, chief executive of the Town and Country Planning Association, and Emrys Parry, a planning expert and partner at Bond Pearce LLP, will be key decision-makers for the new fast-track commission.

The IPC will begin accepting major planning applications on projects such as large wind farms, power stations and railways from March 2010.

The government hopes the new system will save up to £300m a year and reduce the length of major applications to less than one year.

Sir Michael Pitt, chairman of the IPC, welcomed the appointments: “Gideon, Katherine and Bryan are very experienced professionals and valued appointments. We have built a strong team, ready to do business.”

The IPC opened on 1 October this year to advise promoters and interested parties on the new process.

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