7 Draft National Planning Policy Statements announced
Energy and Climate Secretary, Ed Millband announced on 9 November six draft national policy statements (NPS) for public consultation in relation to:
- Fossil fuels,
- Nuclear Energy,
- Renewables,
- Transmission networks
- Oil and gas pipelines
- Development of Clean Coal.
A seventh NPS on Ports was announced separately by the Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Adonis.
The draft National Policy Statements (NPSs) will be the basis on which individual planning decisions are made from next March by the new Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC).
Speaking to House of Commons Ed Millband said that in order for the Government to meet its commitments to reduce carbon emissions for 2020 and beyond, it was necessary to reform the planning system which is characterised by "duplication with several bodies responsible for different aspects of consent, overlapping responsibilities of politicians and independent decisions makers and delay."
The Energy and Climate Secretary added that :
"Renewables are a home-grown and plentiful source of supply, already powering two million homes in the UK; nuclear is a proven, reliable source of low carbon energy: an important baseload in the system and fossil fuels, with carbon capture and storage, will enable flexible peakload response.
Last year we saw offshore wind generation increase by two thirds and onshore wind generation by one quarter.
But we need to significantly increase the rate of progress to meet our objective of 30% of our electricity coming from renewables by 2020."
Taken together these National Policy Statement represent the Government's a framework for the future energy supplies.
Also in a speech to the House of Commons on 9 November, the Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Adonis stated that
"The draft National Policy Statement for ports sets out the broad need for ports capacity looking ahead to 2030 and beyond, taking account in particular of our forecasts of port freight demand and the regional and local economic benefits of port activity. It also restates the Government's long-standing policy that this need can be best be met by an efficient and competitive ports industry operating in a free-market environment.
It further sets out, in the context of the Government's overall objectives for sustainable development, including mitigating and adapting to climate change and the achievement of good design, how the various potential adverse impacts of port development should be addressed by applicants with a view to avoiding, mitigating and where necessary compensating for such impacts. It notes how ports can support the development of low carbon energy sources and a low carbon economy. And it provides guidance about how the Infrastructure Planning Commission must weight any residual impacts in considering applications for nationally significant port developments, including in setting requirements and agreeing obligations for consented developments."
For further details relating to the draft NPS on energy provision click at www.energynpsconsultation.decc.gov.uk
and for the ports NPS at www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/portsnps
For further comment and information about the Energy NPS please contact Richard Atkinson and for the Ports NPS Erica Mortimer or Richard Tilley.
