Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 123
We welcome the Government’s announcement that it intends to review the 2012 National Policy Statement...
Recommendation
We welcome the Government’s announcement that it intends to review the 2012 National Policy Statement for Ports. We urge prompt completion of this review to ensure the NPS remains an effective tool in securing the infrastructure development needed by ports in a timely way.
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees to reviewing the National Policy Statement for Ports, as a review is timely, but the current NPSP provides a workable framework in the meantime. They will also develop an action plan for increasing planning authorities’ awareness of the NPSP.
Paragraph Reference:
123
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The Government partially agrees, as a review is timely, but the current NPSP provides a workable framework in the meantime. On 14 March 2023 the Transport Secretary announced a review of the NPSP under the provisions of the Planning Act 2008. This review will include a thorough examination of the modelling and forecasts that support the statement of need for development, and the environmental, safety, resilience, and local community considerations that planning decisions must take into account. Reviewing the NPSP will ensure that it remains fit for purpose in supporting the Government’s commitments for appropriate development of ports infrastructure and associated road and rail links. It has been identified in our early engagement on the NPSP, and in evidence to the Committee, that the NPSP itself is not always the issue but rather the awareness of it among planning authorities. We will develop an action plan for increasing planning authorities’ awareness of the NPSP alongside our engagement programme on the NPSP review itself.