Recommendation 21

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 engage with people directly. It is imperative that public consultation over these plans includes targeted engagement with communities who will see large volumes of infrastructure, clusters of projects, or energy infrastructure in their locality for this first time, as set out in the SSEP methodology. Engagement with these communities should raise awareness of the infrastructure which they are likely to see in the years to come. (Conclusion, Paragraph 61) 54