Planning for new energy infrastructure: 2025 revisions to National Policy Statements
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
Having reviewed the evidence received, we intend to proceed with the changes to the NPSs with some revisions.
These National Policy Statements are being updated:
- EN-1: Overarching National Policy Statement for energy
- EN-3: National Policy Statement for renewable energy infrastructure
- EN-5: National Policy Statement for electricity networks infrastructure
We have published the government response to the consultation and laid EN-1, EN-3 and EN-5 in Parliament. The new versions of the National Policy Statements will come into force following a 21-sitting day consideration period.
The guidance is being updated to make it easier for decision makers, applicants and the wider public to understand:
- government policy on the need for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs)
- how applications for energy infrastructure will be assessed
- the way in which impacts and mitigations will be judged
Previous versions of EN-1, EN-3 and EN-5 came into force on 17 January 2024.
Detail of feedback received
We received 189 responses to the consultation, the majority of which were from:
- members of the public
- commercial organisations
- public bodies
Original consultation
Consultation description
The energy National Policy Statements (NPS) set out the government’s policy for the delivery of energy infrastructure and provide the legal framework for planning decisions. They were last updated and published in 2024.
We have made draft updates to:
- EN-1: Overarching National Policy Statement for energy
- EN-3: National Policy Statement for renewable energy infrastructure
- EN-5: National Policy Statement for electricity networks infrastructure
Through these updates, we have strengthened the process for delivering major new infrastructure in England and Wales, reinforcing the government’s ambition to deliver Clean Power by 2030 and net zero.
We have published the consultation document and Appraisal of Sustainability non-technical summary in Welsh language.
We are happy to receive responses related to these documents via email to energyNPS@energysecurity.gov.uk until 23 June 2025.
Documents
Updates to this page
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Government response and draft versions of the National Policy Statements published.
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We have published the consultation document and Appraisal of Sustainability non-technical summary in Welsh language. We are happy to receive related responses via email to energyNPS@energysecurity.gov.uk until 23 June 2025.
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First published.