Energy planning reforms approved by Parliament

Developers of major energy projects in England and Wales will now have greater certainty on how planning applications will be considered after the Energy National Policy Statements were designated. This follows approval in a House of Commons vote last night.

The independent Infrastructure Planning Commission will now use the NPSs to inform planning decisions. The NPSs will be used in future for recommendations by the IPC’s successor, subject to passage of the Localism Bill.

The designation means that the NPSs now have effect when companies submit planning applications for new nuclear power stations at any of the eight locations listed in the Nuclear NPS.

Charles Hendry, Minister for Energy said:

“Far too often the planning system has resulted in delay and indecision over major energy projects and things simply not getting built.

“We are removing uncertainty to give industry the confidence to invest in much needed new energy infrastructure in this country.”

Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark said:

"Energy projects provide a real growth opportunity for this country and will bring billions of pounds of investment that will not only lead to jobs but essential new infrastructure.

"These statements are an important part of the package of reforms Government is making to the planning system and will ensure faster decisions can be made."

Notes for Editors:

1. The energy NPSs, the accompanying Appraisals of Sustainability, which incorporate the environmental reports for the purposes of Directive 2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment, and the Post-Adoption Statement can be found on the NPS pages of the DECC website
2. The NPSs have been subject to both public consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny. The consultation closed on 24th January 2011. DECC held public events during the consultation in London, Bristol and Manchester, and also attended 6 events organised by local authorities and interest groups. 2,554 individuals and organizations responded to the consultation. A previous consultation on the NPSs ran from November 2009 to February 2010.
3. The NPSs have been subject to Parliamentary Scrutiny; the House of Commons held a debate on 1 December 2010, the House of Lords Grand Committee debated NPSs on 11 and 13 January 2011, and the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee published a report on 26 January 2011.
4. The Nuclear National Policy Statement lists the following sites as potentially suitable for the deployment of new nuclear power stations by 2025:

Bradwell, Essex; Hartlepool, Borough of Hartlepool; Heysham, Lancashire; Hinkley Point, Somerset; Oldbury, South Glos.; Sellafield, Cumbria; Sizewell, Suffolk; Wylfa, Isle of Anglesey.
 

Source: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn11_063/pn11_063.aspx

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