Planning for new energy infrastructure: review of energy National Policy Statements
Download the full outcome
Detail of outcome
To enable delivery of the commitments in April’s ‘British Energy Security Strategy’, the department has reviewed and strengthened these National Policy Statements (NPS). This includes the EN-1 Overarching need case for energy infrastructure, EN-3 Renewable electricity infrastructure and EN-5 Electricity networks infrastructure. The department has ensured that the documents fully reflect the strategic importance of new energy infrastructure for delivering the UK’s energy security and affordability and to deliver on net zero. The importance of this has been underlined by global events in the last 12 months since the end of the previous consultation.
A re-consultation has been opened for these documents, closing date 25 May 2023.
Detail of feedback received
Responses came from a wide range of respondents including individual members of the public, companies involved in the energy industry, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) including local campaigning groups, regulators such as the Environment Agency (EA) and local authorities.
Whilst all responses have been considered, this document does not attempt to set out the government’s response to every single point raised. Instead, it concentrates on the key themes which arose from the consultation and explains how they have been taken into account in shaping the revised draft NPS publications and associated documents.
Original consultation
Consultation description
The energy National Policy Statements (NPS) set out the government’s policy for the delivery of energy infrastructure and provide the legal framework for planning decisions. They were first designated and published in 2011.
The Energy white paper announced that the government would review the energy NPS to:
- reflect the policies and broader strategic approach set out in the white paper
- ensure that we continue to have a planning policy framework which can support the infrastructure required for the transition to net zero
This consultation seeks views on:
- whether the revised energy NPS provide a suitable framework to support decision making for nationally significant energy infrastructure
- the appraisals of sustainability (AoS) and habitats regulations assessments (HRA) that have been carried out in relation to the draft energy NPS
Read the BEIS consultation privacy notice.
Please don’t send responses by post to the department at the moment as we may not be able to access them.
Documents
Last updated 30 March 2023 + show all updates
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Government response published.
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Added Welsh versions of Habitats regulations assessment (HRA) and Appraisal of sustainability (AoS).
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Welsh versions of energy National Policy Statements (EN) 2-5 added.
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Welsh versions of 2 documents added: Ymgynghoriad | Cynllunio ar gyfer Isadeiledd Ynni Newydd; Datganiad Polisi Cenedlaethol Cyffredinol am Ynni (EN-1)
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First published.