Recommendations & Conclusions
22 items
5
Conclusion
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
We welcome the new strategic framework for energy infrastructure planning which the Government proposes to endorse in the National Policy Statements. However, even with these changes, the National Policy Statements do not sufficiently reflect the highly important role that strategic plans are intended to have in guiding future energy infrastructure …
Government response. The government has added a reference to the SSEP in the NPS to ensure it's accorded weight and clarified how SSEP and CSNP will interact. Further information will be published in early 2026.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
8
Conclusion
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
It seems to us that this would be inconsistent. The availability and prospects of securing a grid connection are issues that should cut both ways, weighing for, or against, the grant of development consent depending on the circumstances. (Conclusion, Paragraph 30) 51
Government response. The government welcomed the endorsement of the CSNP in National Policy Statements and committed to publishing the detailed CSNP methodology by early 2026, which will define strategic parameters. They also plan amendments to the NPS to ensure CSNP endorsement requires …
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
10
Recommendation
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
There needs to be more coordination between the application processes for development consent and a grid connection, given that each is highly relevant to the other and both will be influenced by the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan, and the Land Use Framework. It is …
Government response. The government states there is already strong interaction between connection and development consent processes, detailing existing policies like reordering connection queues and prioritising projects with advanced planning to ensure coordination.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
11
Recommendation
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
The National Policy Statements should give significant weight to the availability of a grid connection, as a paramount consideration in determining where electricity generation projects can be located. However, by the same token, where a project has not yet secured a grid connection, the prospects of doing so should also …
Government response. The government states that existing guidance in NPS EN-1 already addresses grid connection considerations, requiring the Secretary of State to be satisfied that appropriate network arrangements are or will be in place for a project.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
15
Recommendation
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
Endorsement of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan, the Centralised Strategic Network Plan and the Electricity Transmission Design Principles in the National Policy Statements should not become official until these plans are finalised and have completed public consultation and environmental assessments. At that stage, the Government should review the proposed policy …
Government response. The government accepts the recommendation, stating that endorsement of the CSNP, SSEP, and ETDP in the NPSs will only become official after plans are finalised, undergo public consultation, environmental assessments, and publication.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
16
Conclusion
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
We have not had the opportunity to consider the issue in detail. However, we believe that there is merit to these arguments, given that electricity distribution infrastructure is strategically important and can be much smaller in scale than transmission infrastructure. (Conclusion, Paragraph 48)
Government response. The government has consulted on reforms for electricity network infrastructure, including proposals to amend NSIP thresholds for distribution projects, and will respond and legislate accordingly in due course.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
18
Conclusion
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
The complex judgments involved in evaluating different options for electricity network infrastructure not only raise a strong argument for settling these strategic considerations at an earlier stage, but also heighten the need for affected communities to be involved in those decisions. (Conclusion, Paragraph 53)
Government response. The government states NESO’s CSNP process will be transparent, inclusive, and subject to public consultation, and is introducing a Planning and Infrastructure Bill amendment to improve community engagement for NSIPs, supported by new statutory guidance.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
19
Conclusion
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
It would be regrettable if this timeline meant that public engagement activities taking place towards the end of the consultation period have less, or even no, impact on the final outcome. (Conclusion, Paragraph 58)
Government response. The government states that NESO is already undertaking extensive societal engagement on the SSEP, including focus groups and questionnaires, well ahead of the public consultation in 2026.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
21
Recommendation
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
We welcome the National Energy System Operator (NESO)’s ambition for meaningful and comprehensive engagement with diverse communities, economic interests and societal groups throughout the development of the SSEP and the CSNP. At the very least, we expect the use of surveys, focus groups, roundtables, stakeholder meetings, events and webinars to …
Government response. The government states NESO is already undertaking extensive engagement, including focus groups and questionnaires, ahead of its public consultation in 2026. It agrees a comprehensive strategy is critical and commits to a planning process that balances national needs with local …
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
24
Conclusion
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
We have concerns about the effect of the proposed new policy, in paragraph 4.2.24 of EN-1, that measures to mitigate the environmental impacts of Critical National Priority (CNP) infrastructure are “unlikely to be considered to be appropriate” if they “result in a material reduction in generation capacity”. The word “material” …
Government response. The government has amended the wording in EN-1, paragraph 4.2.24, replacing "material reduction" with "significant reduction" and clarifying that small reductions in generation capacity can be appropriate for significant mitigation benefits.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
25
Conclusion
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
National planning policy for CNP infrastructure should strongly encourage innovative strategies to reduce environmental impacts and, where appropriate, adjustments to site boundaries, layouts or the volume of electricity generation in specific areas for this purpose. (Conclusion, Paragraph 69)
Government response. The government has amended EN-1, paragraph 4.2.24, to clarify that the policy's focus is not solely on maximising generation capacity and allows for small reductions in capacity when mitigation measures have significant environmental benefits.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
26
Recommendation
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
The Government should review whether the following sentence in EN-1, paragraph 4.2.24, is consistent with its own domestic and international biodiversity commitments, as well as those of the devolved administrations: 55 “Measures that result in a material reduction in generation capacity for CNP infrastructure are unlikely to be considered to …
Government response. The government has amended EN-1, paragraph 4.2.24, to clarify that the policy does not solely aim to maximise generation capacity and that small reductions are appropriate if they achieve significant environmental benefits.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
27
Conclusion
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
We welcome a more strategic approach to energy infrastructure planning that integrates the pursuit of climate and biodiversity goals and enables the early consideration of nature protection on a habitat-wide basis. We are encouraged to see this ambition reflected in the Government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, the Strategic Spatial …
Government response. The government welcomed the strategic approach to energy infrastructure planning, echoing the committee's sentiment and confirming that existing frameworks and guidance, such as the Environment Act 2021 and the Environmental Improvement Plan, already promote the integration of climate and biodiversity …
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
29
Recommendation
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
The Government should consider how guidance in the National Policy Statements could respond to such findings by positively encouraging such practices. (Recommendation, Paragraph 78)
Government response. The government states that existing National Policy Statements (NPSs), particularly EN-1 and EN-3, already encourage sustainable development, biodiversity net gain, and explicitly recognise solar farms' potential to enhance biodiversity.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
30
Recommendation
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
The Government should require developers to avoid building on land that has high ecological and climate value, such as peat and saltmarsh. (Recommendation, Paragraph 79)
Government response. The government states that existing National Policy Statements (NPSs) already protect irreplaceable habitats like peat and saltmarsh, require applicants to avoid impacts as the first stage of mitigation, and guide them to seek other locations before siting developments on peatland.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
31
Conclusion
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
Effective marine spatial planning will be essential to balance the protection of marine and coastal habitats with the accelerated development of offshore energy infrastructure. (Conclusion, Paragraph 80)
Government response. The government states it has developed the Marine Spatial Prioritisation (MSPri) Programme to strategically consider seabed use and inform future offshore wind area identification while avoiding sensitive areas, and the SSEP will also serve as a marine spatial planning tool.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
32
Conclusion
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
We endorse the Environmental Audit Committee’s recommendation that the Government clarify the objectives and timeline for outputs of the Marine Spatial Prioritisation Programme. (Recommendation, Paragraph 80)
Government response. Defra clarifies the initial objectives of the Marine Spatial Prioritisation (MSPri) Programme as optimising sea use, maximising colocation, and prioritisation, and outlines the program's evolution and next phase, including stakeholder engagement in summer 2025.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
33
Conclusion
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
There is a clear, recognised need for a more strategically coordinated approach to environmental impact assessments in the offshore wind sector. (Conclusion, Paragraph 81)
Government response. The government details multiple initiatives like the MSPri, SSEP, and the Offshore Wind Environmental Improvement Package (OWEIP), which introduces strategic reforms, a Marine Recovery Fund, and new environmental standards, to achieve a coordinated approach to offshore wind deployment and environmental …
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
34
Recommendation
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
The Government should consider how guidance in the National Policy Statements could help to achieve this and confirm what further steps it is taking to reduce unnecessary costs and delays incurred due to the current project-by-project approach. (Recommendation, Paragraph 81) 56
Government response. The government confirms that the SSEP, MSPri, and OWEIP policies will be fully included, as appropriate, in future updates to the National Policy Statements to help achieve a coordinated approach and reduce costs and delays.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
38
Recommendation
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
The Government should, in its response to this Report, provide any evidence which it has that the proposed 100 MW threshold for onshore wind developments to fall under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime will aid in the development of onshore wind projects, or whether the threshold should be lowered. …
Government response. The government explained that the 100MW threshold for onshore wind NSIPs was set following a legislative process, public consultation, and the publication of a full impact assessment. They justified the threshold by arguing that a lower threshold could lead to …
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
43
Recommendation
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
To provide greater certainty, the Government should amend the guidance to clarify precisely what is expected. (Recommendation, Paragraph 100)
Government response. The government acknowledges concerns about the clarity of guidance on inter-array wake effects and has revised the relevant paragraph to state: "Applicants should demonstrate they have made reasonable endeavours to mitigate the impact of wake effects on other offshore wind …
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
44
Conclusion
2nd Report - Gridlock or growth? Avoidi…
Accepted
We are concerned that a lack of clear guidance is leading to unnecessary arguments about food security taking up disproportionate time and resources during examinations. We are concerned that the current guidance on agricultural land classification and land type for solar farms, in paragraphs 2.10.20 to 2.10.26 of EN-3, is …
Government response. The government stated that the National Policy Statement (NPS) already discourages the use of Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land unless there's an overriding need, and they have added a reference to Natural England's detailed guidance on Agricultural Land …
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero