Steer Davies Gleave Director Jim Steer has joined the Steering Group for the newly-created National Infrastructure Planning Association (NIPA). NIPA is being launched in the lead up to the publication of Infrastructure UK's National Infrastructure Plan and, next month, the Localism Bill, which will make important changes to the Planning Act 2008. It aims to provide a forum for those with an interest in the planning and authorisation of national infrastructure projects in the UK, to develop, share and champion excellence and best practice with respect to preparing applications for development consent to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC).