The Infrastructure Planning Commission has yet to receive formal applications as it waits to learn its fate from the new government, but meanwhile its commissioners have been allocated to work on proposals at their pre-application stage.
Before the election the Conservatives promised to abolish the Commission and transfer its powers to ministers while the Liberal Democrats promised a return of powers to "local people".
While it awaits its fate, however, its chair Sir Michael Pitt has allocated commissioners to individual projects alongside case teams.
"Whilst this is not a statutory requirement, it makes good and appropriate use of the Commissioner's experience and judgement," he said.
"It forms part of the overall quality assurance procedures of the IPC."
The pre-application work includes reviewing documentation, site visits and environmental impact assessment. Commissioners are supposed to sign off scoping options.
The Commission currently has 32 proposals in its programme, recently adding biomass plants in Hull and Tyneside, a power line in south Wales, a windfarm in north Wales and two offshore wind proposals.
