The plan approval procedure is a formalised approval procedure on the permissibility of spatially significant projects and infrastructure projects, which includes public and private concerns in the weighing process at an early stage. The legal basis for the plan approval procedure is found in Section 72 et seqq Administrative Procedure Act (VwVfG), in the administrative procedure laws of the federal states and in special sectoral planning law. According to these, a plan approval is required, for example, for the construction of federal motorways under the Highway Act (FStrG) or the construction of certain power lines under the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) or the Grid Expansion Acceleration Act (NABEG).