Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Deferred
Paragraph: 90
Sustained government and regulator action essential to reduce grid connections queue for renewables.
Conclusion
Sustained and consistent action by Government and the regulator will be required to manage the grid connections queue down so that commissioned renewable generation projects are able to deliver outputs to the grid without unreasonable delays.
Government Response Summary
The government response focuses on initiatives to improve planning capacity for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects through the Planning Advisory Service, recruitment funding, and cost-recovery, rather than directly addressing how it will manage down the existing grid connections queue for commissioned renewable generation projects.
Paragraph Reference:
90
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
We have also appointed Planning Advisory Service to provide additional support through the creation of an NSIP network for local authorities who have to engage with an application for a major infrastructure project in their area. The PAS network has grown since its creation, now supporting 92 local authority officers representing 39 local authorities (March 2024). Through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects Action Plan, £9.1M has been freed up to recruit into the Planning Inspectorate, Local Planning Authorities and the Statutory Environment Bodies. Cost-recovery for services rendered as part of the DCO process by public bodies is being taken forward to ensure funding of planning services in public bodies is demand-driven. The Government are monitoring the implementation of cost recovery and the recruitment and retention of talent in public bodies