The Transport Infrastructure (Fees) Regulations 2026

• The Infrastructure Planning (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 empower public authorities to charge for services on certain transport infrastructure projects.
• These new regulations are based on powers inserted into existing laws by the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025.
• The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 amended the Highways Act 1980 and the Transport and Works Act 1992 to enable these charging provisions.
• Project developers and legal advisors in Great Britain must now account for these new public authority project charges, impacting financial planning.

For legal professionals advising clients on transport infrastructure projects in Great Britain, the Infrastructure Planning (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 necessitate a thorough re-evaluation of project financial models.

The recently enacted Infrastructure Planning (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 are set to introduce a significant shift in the financial landscape for development across Great Britain. These new regulations empower specific public authorities to levy charges for various services they provide in connection with certain transport infrastructure projects. This development means that entities undertaking such projects will need to account for an additional layer of financial obligations, directly impacting their overall project budgets and financial forecasts.

This legislative change establishes a framework for new GB transport infrastructure fees, ensuring that public bodies can recover costs associated with their involvement in major development schemes. The scope of these charges is specifically tied to services rendered in relation to defined transport infrastructure initiatives, marking a notable evolution in how public sector engagement in these projects is funded and managed. Project developers and their legal advisors must now integrate these potential new costs into their early planning stages.

The authority for these new public authority project charges UK stems from powers that were specifically inserted into existing legislation by the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (c. 34). This foundational act laid the groundwork for the subsequent Infrastructure Planning (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 by amending two key pieces of legislation governing infrastructure development.

Specifically, the 2025 Act introduced the necessary provisions into the Highways Act 1980 (c. 66) and the Transport and Works Act 1992 (c. 42). These amendments now permit the creation of regulations, such as the 2026 Fees Regulations, which detail the circumstances under which fees can be charged. Consequently, any project falling under the purview of these amended acts, which now include provisions for Highways Act 1980 fees and Transport and Works Act 1992 fees, will be subject to the new charging regime. The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 impact is therefore far-reaching, establishing the legal precedent for these new financial requirements.

For legal professionals advising clients on transport infrastructure projects in Great Britain, the Infrastructure Planning (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 necessitate a thorough re-evaluation of project financial models. The introduction of these new public authority project charges UK means that what were previously uncharged services from public bodies may now incur significant costs, directly affecting the viability and profitability of development schemes. This requires a proactive approach to understanding the specific services for which fees will be applied and integrating these into financial projections.

Compliance officers, in particular, will need to scrutinize existing and future project budgets, as well as contractual agreements, to ensure they adequately reflect these new fee structures. The potential for increased expenditure due to GB transport infrastructure fees demands careful financial planning and risk assessment. The comprehensive impact of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, culminating in these regulations, underscores the importance of diligent legal and financial oversight to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape for infrastructure development.

Lawyers advising clients on transport infrastructure projects in Great Britain must now account for new fees that public authorities are empowered to charge under these regulations, potentially impacting project costs and financial planning. Compliance officers should review project budgets and contractual agreements for these new fee structures.

Source: Original reporting via government legislation