Recommendation 24

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” is ambiguous. We are not persuaded that the Government has sufficiently considered how this change of policy might affect the achievement of biodiversity targets in the UK or those adopted by the devolved administrations. (Conclusion, Paragraph 68)