Policy paper

Supplementary Information to the National Policy Statement for Nuclear Energy Generation EN-7 (accessible webpage)

Updated 18 December 2025

Applies to England and Wales

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

The new National Policy Statement for Nuclear Energy Generation (EN-7) sets out the criteria developers must meet within their application for Development Consent.

Alongside the application for development consent, developers must undergo various assessment, permitting and site licensing regimes to ensure robust safety, security and environmental protections.

The government recognises the complexity of nuclear infrastructure development and has provided this supplementary information to EN-7 to support developers intending to apply for Development Consent in applying EN-7 to their projects.

This supplementary information should be read in conjunction with EN-7 and other relevant guidance. Applicants are also advised to remain mindful of wider ongoing developments in the sector, the government’s response to the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce, and the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. These evolving policies and frameworks may introduce additional considerations or requirements that could affect the planning, assessment, and delivery of nuclear infrastructure projects. Applicants should ensure they are referring to the most current guidance and legislative context when preparing their applications

1.2 Structure of this Document

This document provides additional support and supplementary information to EN-7.

This document has no statutory status and the information provided may not cover all requirements or eventualities; the applicant should engage with the relevant statutory bodies for full advice on their proposed project.

Further information regarding these processes is detailed in this document and appropriate resources are signposted.

2. Development Consent Order Pre-Application Process

2.01 Consenting Regimes

The consenting regimes which a nuclear infrastructure project may be subject to depends on its location.

In England, nuclear energy infrastructure projects with an electricity generating capacity exceeding 50 MW (as specified in the Planning Act 2008) are classified as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). Such projects require a Development Consent Order (DCO) from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero before development can commence. Under 50MW projects are subject to the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA) 1990.

In Wales, projects up to 50MW would also be under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Projects between 50MW and 350MW will be classified as Significant Infrastructure Projects (SIPs) and require consent from Welsh Ministers. Projects over 350MW are NSIPs and will follow the DCO route with consent granted by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. 

Importantly, the Secretary of State (in England) or Welsh Ministers (in Wales) may direct that a project with an energy output below the standard threshold be treated as an NSIP or SIP, respectively, if deemed appropriate. This is provided for under Section 35 and 35ZA of the Planning Act 2008 (England) and Sections 22 and 23 of the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024.

2.02 Development Consent Order Guidance

Applicants should have regard to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s National Infrastructure Planning Guidance and the Planning Inspectorate’s advice pages, which outlines the statutory requirements and steps to be taken to prepare a Development Consent Order application. The pre-application process is intentionally front-loaded, requiring thorough planning and consultation at the early stages, to ensure that potential issues are identified and addressed early and thus streamlining the subsequent stages.

The Planning Inspectorate has published a pre-application prospectus which sets out its pre-application service. ^{[footnote 1]} The key areas of operational reform supported within the Inspectorate’s new service are:

• The introduction of three pre-application tier options reflecting different levels of service that applicants may receive from the Inspectorate ahead of submitting an application;
• The introduction of pre-application fees associated with the service under each pre-application tier, discharging government’s policy ambition for the Inspectorate to achieve full cost recovery for the services it provides;
• The introduction of a ‘Fast Track’ procedure which will allow some applications, that are able to satisfy a new Quality Standard, to potentially receive a decision within 12 months from the point that the application is accepted for examination.

2.1 Initial Criteria Assessment

It is recommended that the population density and proximity to military activities criteria are assessed at the earliest possible stage and for all potential sites under consideration. If these criteria are not met, the relevant statutory consultee will recommend to the Secretary of State that Development Consent should not be granted for the project. Information regarding how to consider these criteria and who to engage with is provided in EN-7, with further information given below.

2.1.1 Population Density

Once the relevant six figure grid coordinates for potential reactor sites are identified, it is recommended that the applicant enters into a contract with the Health and Safety Executive (see contact details in Section 6) who can carry out an assessment of the given coordinates. The applicant will be provided with a list detailing which coordinates pass, which fail and which are unavailable for assessment. There is no statutory obligation for the Health and Safety Executive to undertake this work, and it will attract a fee. The Health and Safety Executive can provide the applicant with information that the applicant can submit for the purposes of obtaining a Development Consent Order. The Secretary of State’s decision on the application is independent of any Health and Safety Executive (or Office for Nuclear Regulation) assessment, and simply undertaking the assessment is not a guarantee of any particular outcome or decision. The HSE will not provide results for cells wholly or partially located within an existing nuclear site which are considered unavailable for development. These cells could be unavailable for several reasons including hosting an operational or decommissioning reactor. 

2.1.2 Proximity to Military Activities

Once a proposed reactor site has passed the semi-urban population density assessment, the applicant should engage with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (6. Contact Details), part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), for feedback on the proposed location and design of the proposed nuclear infrastructure.

The Ministry of Defence will provide the applicant with feedback on the proposed nuclear infrastructure on behalf of defence interests within 6–12 weeks, including any conditions that would likely be included as part of a Development Consent Order. There is no cost to the applicant for this initial assessment.

However, should the applicant disagree with a judgement reached by the MOD or believes an identified impact can be mitigated, the applicant will be required to produce, pay for and submit an appeal or proposed mitigation plan. Should this plan be accepted, a conditional requirement may be added to any consent given.

2.2 Early Engagement and Review

Site review is the early stage of gathering the evidence required to meet the site assessment criteria. Undertaking an early assessment for multiple sites could reduce project risk.

Early engagement with the statutory bodies is highly recommended as it can enable identification of potential issues and de-risk the project. Applicants can present maps of proposed sites and details of planned activities; statutory bodies will have the expertise to provide advice and identify potential risks. For instance, Historic England can advise on the likelihood of encountering archaeological sites prior to construction, helping to de-risk and speed-up the application process. The bodies that should be engaged with for each criterion is set out in a matrix below; please note that this may not be exhaustive.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales work together to make sure that any new nuclear power plants built in Great Britain meet the standards for safety, security, safeguards, environmental protection and waste management. They have produced joint guidance to describe a new early engagement process for persons seeking to deploy reactor technology, which may take place prior to entering generic design assessment (GDA) or other regulatory processes such as licensing ^{[footnote 2]}.

2.2.1 Evidence Plan

Applicants may choose to undertake an Evidence Plan, to facilitate engagement with the statutory bodies and to agree the evidence required to support a Habitats Regulations Assessment and/or the Environmental Statement. The Evidence Plan can also assist applicants with developing a timetable of pre-application activities (see 2.5 Inception Meeting). The timetable can enable systematic and efficient data collection. For example, ecological surveys can require several years of data, so starting this early can prevent delays. After the inception meeting, the applicant should follow their Evidence Plan to demonstrate how their proposed site meets the requirements as set out in EN-7, engaging with the relevant statutory bodies throughout the process. The bodies that should be engaged with for each criterion is set out in Section 5. Matrix of the Criteria, Technical Considerations and Impacts; and the Bodies to be Engaged; please note that this may not be exhaustive. The evidence plan process should also be used for other consents and licences as well as the DCO. Further use of the evidence plan process by operators will help agree the scope of assessments, required surveys and methodologies for both planning and other consents. This will help reduce costs, uncertainty and timescales of decisions. ^{[footnote 3]}

2.2.2 Cost Recovery

Specified public authorities can recover the costs of providing their services in relation to Nationally Significant Infrastructure, as per amendments to the Infrastructure Planning (Fees) Regulations 2010. This is designed to resource public bodies so they can provide reliable, high-quality advice throughout the various stages of applications. Further detail is provided in guidance published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. ^{[footnote 4]}

Some bodies may offer early engagement free-of-charge; some offer a paid-for Discretionary Advice Service. Applicants are advised to contact statutory bodies for information regarding charging as early as practicable; this will assist applicants in managing costs and will allow regulators to ensure the right level of resourcing to assist with advising the applicant.

2.2.3 Community Engagement

Early engagement with the local ‘host community’ and local authority is highly recommended and is a valuable component of the ‘social licence to operate’. ^{[footnote 5]} Engagement should begin when there is some clarity and certainty regarding the project’s technology, scale and location, as changes to the proposal can damage trust by expectations being raised too soon. It is advisable to conduct both non-statutory and statutory engagements using the same team, based locally to the proposed site, with engagements planned against key project milestones. Ideally, there should be a seamless transition from the important early ‘non statutory’ engagement to the more formal statutory engagement as part of the statutory consenting process.

Engagements should offer meaningful opportunities for stakeholders to raise concerns. To build a good relationship, the applicant should address these concerns in a meaningful way; refine the project when appropriate; and understand the community’s needs (including in the context of community benefits via the statutory process). The applicant should aim to resolve as many issues as possible prior to submitting the Development Consent Order application (or other statutory consenting regimes subject to the scale of the nuclear power station), reaching as much ‘common ground’ as possible. This should provide greater certainty regarding the project’s success and save time and money at the examination stage. It is advisable to record areas or topics of agreement in statements of common ground, and that applications to separate authorities are as similar as possible to prevent any possible confusion, which could result in delays.

2.3 Site Assessment

The applicant will be responsible for leading the coordination of the site characterisation work, assembling a body of evidence to evaluate the site against the EN-7 criteria and engaging with statutory bodies as appropriate. Applicants will have to justify, against the criteria set in EN-7, why their selected site is suitable for a nuclear development whilst maintaining high standards of safety, security, and environmental protection.

It is for the applicant to decide how much site assessment they wish to conduct prior to their inception meeting with the Planning Inspectorate. As a minimum, the applicant should conduct as much desk-based work, using existing information, as possible. This will reduce project risk with relatively little investment by giving applicants a better idea of what further site-specific investigations, sampling and monitoring will be needed to ascertain whether the site is suitable. If possible, it is also advisable to conduct site studies at multiple times of year to account for changing weather patterns etc.

EN-1 and EN-7 place no limit on the amount of low carbon energy infrastructure, including nuclear, that is needed and thus do not require applicants to establish that their proposed site is the most suitable site of all potential sites in relation to any one or more criteria. Applicants may propose a site because it is available for development and it performs satisfactorily against a mix of criteria. Alternative sites do not need to be assessed as thoroughly as the site proposed and identified within the development consent application. Some activities, like detailed consultation with stakeholders, would normally occur after the consideration of alternative sites has yielded a proposed site.

Furthermore, it is advisable to have engaged with all relevant statutory bodies prior to the inception meeting, to identify risks and inform their Evidence Plan, as stated in 2.2.1 Evidence Plan. The bodies that should be engaged with for each criterion is set out in a matrix in below; please note that this may not be exhaustive.

After the inception meeting with the Planning Inspectorate, the applicant should follow their Evidence Plan to demonstrate how their proposed site meets the requirements as set out in EN-7, engaging with the relevant statutory bodies throughout the process.

2.4 Environmental Assessments

Various environmental assessments must be conducted as part of the pre-application process. These are crucial for refining project designs, ensuring regulatory compliance and demonstrating the project’s commitment to environmental protection. The environmental assessments will require baseline data for the proposed site; this should be obtained at an early stage, preferably before the inception meeting with the Planning Inspectorate.

The information provided in this document may not be comprehensive and the applicant should engage with the relevant statutory bodies for further advice; in England, this includes the Environment Agency, Natural England, Marine Management Organisation and Historic England. In Wales, this includes Natural Resources Wales, CADW and the Marine Management Organisation.

2.4.1 Investigations

The investigations required for the proposed development should be identified and incorporated into an Evidence Plan, where applicable, prior to the inception meeting, at an early stage, through engagement with the regulators (Environment Agency, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales). The applicant should refer to Natural England (or Natural Resources Wales if in Wales) guidance regarding species surveys. ^{[footnote 6]} Some studies (e.g. hydro-ecology, coastal processes, and protected species) may require years of data to complete so should be started as early as possible to prevent delays to the project. It is recommended that the applicant commissions an experienced and qualified ecologist if protected species could be present on or near the site; the ecologist can assess the likely impacts of the development and arrange mitigation strategies. Natural England and Natural Resources Wales would like to see survey information as early as possible during the pre-application stage. It is also important that developers consider the need for archaeological surveys and evaluation.

2.4.2 Environmental Impact Assessment

The Environmental Impact Assessment is required for some developments as per the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. It considers the potential significant effects of the project on various environmental aspects: biodiversity, water, air, landscape, cultural heritage, land, soil, material assets, population, human health and climate.

The Environmental Impact Assessment involves the preparation of an Environmental Statement, which ensures that the significant environmental effects of a Proposed Development are sufficiently described and understood.  The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011, Regulation 5(2) specifies the information a prospective developer must include in a notice requesting a scoping opinion from the planning authority, and this includes a wide range of factors including human health, heritage, cultural assets alongside wider environmental considerations ^{[footnote 7]}. Early engagement with the environmental statutory bodies is recommended: this should enable the development of an Evidence Plan to identify the evidence required to satisfy the Environmental Impact Assessment; and a good Environmental Impact Assessment process is iterative and should consider and address comments from consultees. Applicants should refer to the Planning Inspectorate’s Page Seven (including Annex 1) for further information; some key points are described below. ^{[footnote 8]}

If requested by the applicant, the consultation bodies ^{[footnote 9]} are under duty to enter into consultation with the applicant to determine whether they have information considered relevant for the preparation of the Environmental Statement, and to make this available if so. Additionally, the applicant can ask the Secretary of State for a scoping opinion to be provided, advising the scope and level of detail of the information to be provided in the Environmental Statement. The scoping process is undertaken by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State: the Planning Inspectorate must adopt an opinion within 42 days of receiving the request; and before adopting a scoping opinion, the Planning Inspectorate must consult the consultation bodies (and may also consult relevant non-prescribed consultation bodies), who have 28 days to respond. To gain the most benefit, a scoping opinion should be sought once there is sufficient certainty on the design of the Proposed Development, particularly of the elements likely to have a significant environmental effect. The information to be provided by the applicant in the scoping request is set out in the Planning Inspectorate’s Advice Page Seven. Note that the scoping opinion is a specific item as set out in Regulation 10(1) of the Environmental Impacts Assessment Regulations and the applicant must include certain information with their request; this is separate to the early engagement and scoping processes where early engagement, including when multiple sites and designs are under consideration, is highly recommended.

If the Proposed Development is an Environmental Impact Assessment development, the Applicant must publicise and consult on Preliminary Environmental Information as part of their pre-application consultation duties. This should enable consultees to understand the likely environmental effects of the Proposed Development. Whilst the Preliminary Environmental Information does not have to be a draft of the Environmental Assessment, it may be more efficient if this is the case. The applicant should consider the most appropriate stage to publish the Preliminary Environmental Information, as when more is known of the likely environmental effects, more detailed and informed responses to the consultation can be received.

Where there is uncertainty about the environmental effects, as per the Precautionary Principle (a principle which arises from the Habitats Directive and has subsequently been incorporated into the Environment Act), cautious assumptions about the effects should be made. These are likely to be closer to ‘worst case’ scenarios, implying higher costs in avoidance and mitigation – it is therefore in the applicant’s interest to make available sufficient information regarding the likely environmental effects of the proposed development.

The Planning Inspectorate will carefully consider Environmental Statements against the requirements of Schedule 4 of the Environmental Impact Regulations 2017. The Planning Inspectorate’s Advice Page 7 and Annex 1 provide further advice on what is considered a good Environmental Statement and practical advice regard its production including presentation techniques.

2.4.3 Habitats Regulations Assessment

A project will require a Habitats Regulations Assessment if it is likely to affect the protected features of a European (Habitats) or International Site ‒ these are Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Ramsar sites. A Habitats Regulations Assessment may also be required for consents, permits or licences for Environmental Agency permits and consents or Maritime Licensing.

There are further sites which are protected by government policy and require a Habitats Regulations Assessment: proposed Special Areas of Conservation, potential Special Protection Areas, proposed Ramsar sites, areas identified to compensate for damage to a European Site, and any land functionally linked to these sites. Whilst Sites of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserves are not in scope of the Habitats Regulations Assessment, applicants should rule out effects or provide appropriate mitigation for these sites, which are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. Similarly, Marine Conservation Zones are established by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, and the features being protected must be in a favourable condition.

The Habitats Regulations Assessment ensures compliance with the Habitats Regulations and evaluates whether the project could adversely impact the integrity of protected sites. The assessment is carried out by a competent authority; for nuclear infrastructure projects which are Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, this is the Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Applicants should refer to the Planning Inspectorate’s guidance, ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects: Advice on Habitats Regulations Assessments’ for further information; some key points are described below. ^{[footnote 10]}

When applying for a Development Consent Order, applicants must provide sufficient information to enable the decision maker to conclude whether a Habitats Regulations Assessment is required. This can take the form of either: a brief statement confirming that there are no pathways that could lead to effects on a European site from the proposed development (must be supported by suitable evidence, e.g. a map to show that there are no sites in proximity to designated sites); a No Significant Effects Report, where screening shows that likely significant effects on European sites would not occur; or a Habitats Regulations Assessment Report, where significant effects on European sites cannot be excluded. Note that in the first two cases, the conclusions must be supported by appropriate evidence and justification.

Applicants should seek advice from the environmental regulators at the site scoping stage regarding whether a Habitats Regulations Assessment will be required. Prior to the inception meeting, work should have begun on the draft Habitats Regulations Assessment. This work should include a baseline data assessment and Natural England would like to see a draft Habitats Regulations Assessment as early as possible in the pre-application stage. Through early engagement with the statutory bodies, the applicant should have produced an Evidence Plan incorporating the Habitats Regulations Assessment evidence needs.

The Habitats Regulations Assessment involves three key stages. Firstly, the project will be screened for likely significant effects on the site’s conservation objectives. Next is an appropriate assessment – this will assess the implications of the proposal for the qualifying features of the site, in view of its conservation objectives, and identify ways to avoid or minimise effects. If adverse effects on the integrity of the site cannot be ruled out, the third stage will consider whether a derogation can be granted.

The Environmental Impact Assessment is likely to inform the Habitats Regulations Assessment, however, they are distinct processes. The applicant can combine the Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment information into a single document but the information relating to the Habitats Regulations Assessment and its conclusions must be clearly defined. The applicant should refer to the Planning Inspectorate’s Advice Pages for further information, including a list of the Habitats Regulations Assessment information which should be provided with the application.

2.4.4 Flood Risk Assessment

The applicant must conduct a site-specific Flood Risk Assessment. This will analyse the potential for flooding and propose mitigation strategies to manage flood risks. It should demonstrate how flood risk will be managed now and over the development’s lifetime. It should take climate change into account; not increase flood risk elsewhere; and, where possible, reduce flood risk overall. The assessment must consider the possible effects of the credible maximum scenario in the most recent flood projections and demonstrate that they could provide further flood management measures at the site in the future, if climate change predictions turn to reality and show that these are necessary.

Further guidance is available from the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales and applicants are advised to engage with the appropriate agency for further information, including project-specific advice. ^{[footnote 11]}, ^{[footnote 12]} A map showing river and sea flooding is available from the Environment Agency’s Flood Map for Planning. ^{[footnote 13]} Applicants should also refer to the National Planning Policy Framework, which sets out the government’s planning and flood risk policy. ^{[footnote 14]}

2.4.5 Sequential Test

The applicant should consider the necessity of the Sequential Test for potential sites at risk now or in the future from any form of flooding. The Sequential Test aims to minimise flood risk by ensuring that sites at little or no risk of flooding are developed in preference to sites at higher risk. It should include climate change allowances. ^{[footnote 15]} It is best conducted as early as possible and prior to the inception meeting with the Planning Inspectorate, however, it should also be re-evaluated at a later stage to ensure the application is up to date.

When assessing what is a reasonable alternative site for application of the Sequential Test, the applicant should consider constructability, operability and other factors. The other factors could include proximity or connectivity to transmission infrastructure and/or the end user for the energy produced; site access for large items required for construction or operation; any need for the development to be located in a specific region or locality; and the factors influencing site selection set out in EN-7, including access to suitable sources of cooling for the proposed nuclear reactor. This list is not exhaustive and there may also be additional factors that determine whether another site at a lower risk of flooding is a reasonable alternative.  

The Sequential Test must be passed. This can be achieved by either: identifying, and steering the development towards, reasonably available sites with a lower flood risk; or demonstrating that there are no reasonably available sites with a lower flood risk.

Prior to the inception meeting, the Environment Agency (or Natural Resources Wales) would expect the applicant to have completed and passed the first iteration of the Sequential Test. This may include site specific flood modelling if necessary. The Environment Agency can provide the applicant with further information which will help to calculate the estimated flood level for the site in a design flood ^{[footnote 16]} (including an appropriate allowance for climate change) and assess residual flood risks.

2.4.6 Exception Test

If the Sequential Test is passed by the applicant demonstrating that there are no reasonably available sites with a lower flood risk, the Exception Test should then be applied. The Exception Test should demonstrate that the proposed development provides wider sustainability benefits to the community that outweigh the flood risk; and that the development will be safe for its lifetime, without increasing flood risk elsewhere. It should also show how the development will be resilient to the impacts of climate change.

The applicant should refer to Section 5.8 of EN-1 and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government guidance for more information on the Sequential and Exception Tests. ^{[footnote 17]}

2.4.7 Water Resources

There are growing concerns regarding water availability due to climate change, insufficient drought resilience and population change. It is important to ensure there is enough water to protect the environment while meeting the needs of society over the long term. EN-1 contains guidance on water quality and resources; EN-7 covers cooling water requirements for nuclear infrastructure. Applicants must also consider the availability and management of water resources for non-cooling purposes, principally for construction and other operational needs.

The Environment Agency is the environmental regulator of the water industry in England. Natural Resources Wales is the equivalent in Wales. The Environment Agency have published the National Framework for Water Resources, which includes guidance for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and sets out clear policies which government and the regulators jointly agree water companies and others should be working towards. ^{[footnote 18]} Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales give regard to this framework. It covers a range of areas, such as water resource management, efficiency and conservation, assessment of water availability, and environmental considerations.

Developers have a duty in relation to efficient and sustainable water abstraction. They should engage with the water companies to ensure their planned water usage for construction and operation is consistent with regional water usage plans and supports environmental protection. Both the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales take efficient water use into account when issuing and monitoring abstraction licences. Abstractors should not assume they can always meet future growth using volumes of water held on their licences but historically unused. ^{[footnote 19]} Water abstraction regulation does not apply to sea water unless within a tidal water area or estuary.

There are different types of water abstraction licenses. The full abstraction licence is most likely to be relevant for nuclear infrastructure projects – this is for most types of water abstraction over 20 cubic metres a day. Before applying for a licence, the applicant should check if an abstraction licence is needed and check the local abstraction licensing strategy. This will show the water availability in your area and indicate if you’re likely to get a licence. ^{[footnote 20]} Both the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales offer a pre-application advice service: basic (free) advice; and enhanced (paid-for) advice. This can help the applicant understand what information is needed before the application can be accepted; and the likelihood of getting a licence if you apply. Note that a licence is likely to be valid for between 6 and 18 years – i.e. not for the whole operational life of most nuclear infrastructure and therefore the licence holder must renew the licence prior to its expiry. When you apply to abstract water for more than 12 years (up to a maximum of 24 years), the applicant must demonstrate, through a business case, why this is needed and how it is sustainable. Further guidance is available from the Environment Agency. ^{[footnote 21]}

2.4.8 Landscape and Seascape Character Assessment

A Landscape or Seascape Character Assessment will need to be completed at an early stage, so that stakeholders are able to assess the effects on landscape and visual amenity, and to assess whether national protected landscapes will be adversely affected. This assessment will identify and explain the unique combination of elements and features that make landscapes distinctive by mapping and describing character types and areas. They also show how the landscape is perceived, experienced and valued by people. Applicants should refer to Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, CADW and National Parks guidance for further information. ^{[footnote 22]}

2.4.9 Biodiversity Net Gain

Biodiversity net gain is a way of creating and improving natural habitats. It makes sure development has a measurably positive impact (‘net gain’) on biodiversity, compared to what was there before development. Under the Town and County Planning Act, developers must deliver a biodiversity net gain of 10%. ^{[footnote 23]} This requirement is not currently in place for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects; however, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have consulted on the biodiversity net gain requirements for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. Depending on its outcome, a biodiversity net gain statement will be added as an annex to the nuclear National Policy Statement, either when it’s published or at a later date, setting out the requirements developers will need to follow.

2.5 Inception Meeting

The applicant should notify the Planning Inspectorate of their intention to apply for a Development Consent Order, following which the Planning Inspectorate may hold an inception meeting with the applicant to discuss project timeframes. Applicants should put together a Programme Document for agreement at the inception meeting. This sets out the intended programme of work for the preparation of their application. This should include: a comprehensive timetable of the pre-application process; identification of the main issues and how the applicant will address them; proposals for engagement; and risk identification, tracking and management. It would be beneficial to include an Evidence Plan, when applicable and available, in the submitted documentation as this is likely to give confidence to the Planning Inspectorate that early stakeholder engagement has been undertaken and the timelines to address environmental concerns are credible.

The Planning Inspectorate offers three pre-application options, reflecting different levels of service that an applicant may receive from the Planning Inspectorate ahead of submitting an application. Following from (and including) the inception meeting, the Planning Inspectorate will charge the applicant for engagements, with the fee charged dependent on the tier which the applicant has chosen. The applicant should refer to the Planning Inspectorate’s guidance for further information. ^{[footnote 24]}

Early engagement with the Office for Nuclear Regulation should be undertaken as part of the Nuclear Site Licencing process, and not as part of early engagement with the Planning Inspectorate on an application for Development Consent Order. The Office for Nuclear Regulation are a consultee within the Development Consent Order process and so will attend meetings between the Planning Inspectorate and the applicant when requested. 

2.6 Submission of Application

After completion of the pre-application work, the applicant should submit a Development Consent Order application to the Planning Inspectorate for acceptance. It is advisable that at this stage any disputes or disagreements have been resolved. The Planning Inspectorate will then consider whether the application meets the standards to proceed to public examination.

3. Other Licensing and Regulatory Regimes

The applicant should engage with other licensing and regulatory regimes in order to build and operate a nuclear development. Information provided in this document is not exhaustive, and the applicant should seek clarity on what is required for their project by engaging early and regularly with the relevant bodies.

EN-7 includes within its criteria some considerations which are also considerations within relevant regulatory regimes outside of the NSIP consenting regime. For the proposed project to be viable and capable of delivering energy security and other benefits, applicants must be able to secure the necessary regulatory licences, permits or other authorisations within the scope of the development consent they are seeking. However, it is understood that it would not be fair to expect the applicant to be certain of all considerations of interest to relevant regulators at the point development consent is sought and/or granted.

Early and ongoing engagement with relevant regulators will help to maximise the likelihood of satisfying the below expectations within the NSIP consenting regime and progressing smoothly through subsequent regulatory stages.  

It is stated in Section 2.4 of EN-7:

The Secretary of State should not delay their decision on whether to grant Development Consent until completion of any relevant licensing or permitting process, or refuse Development Consent on the grounds that a relevant regulatory permit, licence or other authorisation is outstanding, unless they have good reason to believe a relevant regulatory permit, licence or other authorisation is unlikely to be granted. Good reason may include advice from the relevant Nuclear Regulators.

This test would normally assume that if development consent is granted, further work by the applicant and relevant regulators to ensure regulatory requirements are met will be undertaken effectively and in good faith, in line with paragraph 2.4.6 of EN-7. Therefore a ‘good reason’ as referred to in paragraphs 2.4.4 and 2.4.5 of EN-7 would only be reasonable where the development proposal is so unreasonable, irrational and/or incomplete that the relevant regulators cannot see a reasonable way for the applicant to meet regulatory requirements within the bounds of the Development Consent Order being sought. 

Provided there is no such good reason, further information on issues which also fall within the scope of the regulatory regimes will not normally be sought as part of the NSIP consenting process. 

3.1 Generic Design Assessment

The Generic Design Assessment is conducted jointly by the Office for Nuclear Regulation and the Environment Agency (with Natural Resources Wales in Wales). The applicant should refer to the existing Office for Nuclear Regulation, Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales guidance regarding the Generic Design Assessment. ^{[footnote 25]}

The Generic Design Assessment was developed in response to the Government’s 2006 Energy Review, ^{[footnote 26]} in particular lessons learned from experience with new nuclear power plants which indicated that the use of a standardised design, where the design and safety case are well developed much earlier in the project, would reduce the time for regulatory assessment and address any potential regulatory uncertainty for a future site licensee wishing to build such a design.  Whilst the Generic Design Assessment is not a legal requirement, it offers a reduction in uncertainty and project risk so can support future nuclear site licensing, permitting, construction and regulatory activities.

The regulators offer early discussions to prospective applicants to provide advice on the Generic Design Assessment process. The duration of a Generic Design Assessment depends on several factors, including whether the design is finalised, whether it has been assessed in other countries, and whether a comprehensive, detailed assessment has been requested. Typical timescales will be between two to four years. Following a successful Generic Design Assessment, the applicant can then make site-specific applications. It is thus recommended that the Generic Design Assessment is begun at the earliest possible opportunity, before a site has been selected.

3.2 Environmental Permits

Applicants should refer to Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales guidance regarding radioactive substances permits; and should engage with the Environment Agency and/or Natural Resources Wales to receive advice regarding what further permits are required. ^{[footnote 27]}, ^{[footnote 28]}, ^{[footnote 29]}

The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales are responsible for determining applications and issuing Environmental Permits that are required for constructing operating and decommissioning a nuclear development. Relevant activities that require an environmental permit include discharges and disposals of radioactive waste; operation of a combustion plant; specified industrial processes; abstraction of water; waste operations, including incineration; discharge of turbine condenser cooling and process water to ground and surface waters; and work on or near main rivers, flood or sea defences. See 2.4.7 Water Resources of this document for more information regarding water resources.

The Environment Agencies will decide if a permit should be issued and, if so, the conditions it should contain to ensure that people and the environment will be properly protected. It is an offence not to comply with the conditions of an environmental permit or to carry out a specified activity without an environmental permit. Permit conditions include requirements for duty holders to have sufficient competent resources and management arrangements for limiting discharges and disposals and, where relevant, for the use of Best Available Techniques to minimise creation and disposals of wastes and its impact on people and the environment. Environmental permits can be required at the earliest stage of a project to enable site investigations and characterisation. It is advisable to apply for Environmental Permits prior to applying for a Development Consent Order to help provide permitting information into Development Consent Order decision making and to help ensure that permits are in place to enable commencement of works.

The Environment Agencies welcome early engagement with prospective operators and applicants of new nuclear power plants to ensure that there is good understanding of the requirements and expectations in environmental permitting and in planning, where they are statutory consultees.

3.3 Marine Licence

Applicants must determine if the proposal is considered a marine licensable activity under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. Proposals may be progressed under exemption orders or require a self-service marine licence in some instances. It is recommended that applicants use the Marine Management Organisation’s online interactive tool to determine if the proposed works contain marine licensable activities. The applicant is responsible for determining the licensable activities. ^{[footnote 30]}

Applicants should seek early engagement with Marine Management Organisation (or Natural Resources Wales if the site is within Wales), including when they are considering numerous sites. Both organisations can offer early engagement discussions to assist the applicant in their assessment of impacts of the works. The Marine Management Organisation have numerous guidance documents which should be considered when preparing marine licences. ^{[footnote 31]}

Rather than seeking consent for a marine licence from the Marine Management Organisation directly, the applicant may choose to seek a deemed marine licence as part of the Development Consent Order. It is essential that the Marine Management Organisation is consulted at the earliest opportunity to agree the content of the deemed marine licence and the range of conditions which will be applied.

Any submitted marine licence application to the Marine Management Organisation must be in accordance with the Marine Plans and applicants are encouraged to refer to the Marine Plans at an early stage. ^{[footnote 32]} The Explore Marine Plans digital service can be used to understand relevant Marine Plan policy considerations. ^{[footnote 33]}

3.4 Nuclear Site Licence

Before a nuclear power station can be built and operated on a specific site, a nuclear site licence must be obtained from the Office for Nuclear Regulation. For a licence to be granted, the site must be safe, secure and suitable for the specific design; and the proposed operator must be capable of controlling construction, operation and maintenance of the plant.

A site licence puts the licence holder under strict legal obligations and gives the Office for Nuclear Regulation specific regulatory powers to ensure the site licensee is delivering its responsibilities to maintain safety and security. It is advisable to apply for a nuclear site licence alongside a Development Consent Order; it is possible for a site licence to be applied for, and granted, without the Development Consent Order process having been completed. The Office for Nuclear Regulation will engage with a prospective licence applicant and provide advice on the licensing process and the expectations placed on a licensee.

Early engagement is beneficial to both parties and helps to ensure a ‘right first time’ licence application. Key benefits include:

• applicants gain an understanding of regulatory processes and routes to deployment
• regulators gain an understanding of technologies proposed for deployment and operation, and the status of the safety, security and environmental justifications
• vendors gain an understanding of key regulatory expectations and requirements for such justifications
• vendors receive regulatory advice and guidance ahead of entering formal regulatory processes, enabling them to de-risk later project stages
• regulators gain an understanding of the maturity of potential licensees/ permit holders and the readiness of applicants to progress to more formal regulatory processes, enabling effective prioritisation and management of regulatory resource

An application for a nuclear site licence can be made after completion of a two-step or three-step Generic Design Assessment or can be made without a Generic Design Assessment. The scope of work and duration of the licensing process will vary depending on the precursor steps as equivalent assessment work is required whether a Generic Design Assessment is complete or not.

A licence may be granted when the Office for Nuclear Regulation is satisfied that the licence applicant’s safety and security documentation provide assurance that the site will be suitable for the proposed activities.

Applicants should refer to resources published by the Office for Nuclear Regulation for further information regarding site licensing. ^{[footnote 34]}

3.5 Regulatory Justification

Regulatory Justification is a high-level, non-site-specific assessment which assesses whether the individual or societal benefit resulting from a class or type of practice outweighs the health detriment it may cause. Pre-application advice will be provided by the Justification Application Centre, an administrative office in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which provides an initial point of contact for applicants.

The onus is on an applicant to provide sufficient information to allow the Justifying Authority to reach a decision. There is no standard application form but the information required includes: the applicant’s name and contact details; a description of the class or type of practice, with drawings and diagrams; an appraisal of the benefits and detriments of the class or type of practice, including economic, social, environmental, health and safety, waste disposal and decommissioning (and strategic, industrial, medical, transport and agriculture if appropriate); an assessment of the health detriment it may cause, including the effects of potential and expected radiation exposures on both employees and any other persons; and an indication of the expected extent of the practice.

The Justifying Authority can make a single decision to cover several similar reactor designs provided the evidence indicates that the technical differences do not result in major disparities between the scale and balance of the benefits and detriments.  Applicants are therefore advised to consider developing broader applications rather than applications specific to a particular type of nuclear plant. Applicants should engage with the Justification Application Centre for support on this at the pre-application stage.

It is advisable that an application is made at the earliest opportunity, before significant expenditure has been made. The Justifying Authority will provide an indicative timetable to the applicant within one month of receipt of the application.

Applicants should refer to resources published by Department for Energy Security and Net Zero for further information regarding Regulatory Justification. ^{[footnote 35]}

3.6. Other Licences and Arrangements

The applicant will need to obtain other licences and make various arrangements during the project.

The applicant should consider the groundwater source protection zone of their proposed site, as per Section 5.16 of EN-1 which states that applicants are advised to consider protective measures to control the risk of pollution to groundwater. The Environment Agency are highly likely to object to a proposed development sited in a Source Protection Zone 1; applicants are therefore advised to consult a map of source protection zones and engage with the Environment Agency (or Natural Resources Wales if the site is within Wales) at the site scoping stage regarding groundwater. ^{[footnote 36]}

Applicants may require a protected species licence – this is needed if you plan to disturb or remove wildlife or damage habitats. Applicants will also need consent if they plan to carry out a planned activity affecting a Special Site of Scientific Interest. In both cases, applicants should contact the Natural England or Natural Resources Wales for further information (the licensing and land management teams respectively).

An electricity generation license may be required, as set out in The Electricity (Applications for Licences, Modifications of an Area and Extensions and Restrictions of Licences) Regulations 2019. Guidance is available from Ofgem. ^{[footnote 37]} Further licences may be required, as well as heat networks, fuel transport, and emergency management arrangements.

4. Existing Guidance

Topic	Resource / Link
Areas of Amenity and Landscape Value	Landscape and Seascape Character Assessments, (Natural England and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs)
Areas of Heritage Significance	Managing Significance in Decision-Taking in the Historic Environment, Good Practice Advice in Planning, (Historic England)
	The Setting of Heritage Assets, Good Practice Advice in Planning (Historic England)
	Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 (CADW)
	Planning Policy Wales Technical Advice Page 24: Historic Environment (CADW)
	The Historic Environment and Site Allocations in Local Plans
Biodiversity and Geological Conservation	Natural Environment Planning Practice Guidance (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government)
	Construction Near Protected Areas and wildlife (Natural England and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs)
	Biodiversity Net Gain (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs)
Climate	Use of UK Climate Projections 2018 (Office for Nuclear Regulation)
Coastal and Other Landscape Change Processes	Shoreline Management Plans Guidance (Environment Agency)
	River Basin Management Plans (Environment Agency)
	River basin planning guidance: Statutory guidance on the implementation of the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017.
Development Consent Order	Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects: Advice Pages (Planning Inspectorate)
	Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects: 2024 Pre-Application Prospectus (Planning Inspectorate)
	Pre-Application Stage for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (Planning Inspectorate)
	Acceptance Stage for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (Planning Inspectorate)
	Advice on the Preparation and Submission of Application Documents (Planning Inspectorate)
	Advice on Working with Public Bodies in the Infrastructure Planning Process (Planning Inspectorate)
	Advice on the Consultation Report (Planning Inspectorate)
	Cost Recovery by the Planning Inspectorate and Public Authorities (Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government)
Early regulatory engagement	Joint Regulatory Guidance on Early regulatory engagement for new nuclear projects
Electricity Generation Licence	Electricity Licences and Conditions (Ofgem)
Emergency Planning	REPPIR 2019 – Approved Code of Practice (Office for Nuclear Regulation)
Environmental Assessments	Advice Page Seven: Environmental Impact Assessment (Planning Inspectorate)
	Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects: Advice on Habitats Regulations Assessments (Planning Inspectorate)
Environmental Permits	Nuclear Sites Radioactive Substances Regulation: Environmental Permits (Environment Agency)
	Permits and Permissions (Natural Resources Wales)
	Pre-Submission Screening Service (Natural England)
Flooding, Tsunami and Storm Surge	Principles for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (Office for Nuclear Regulation & Environment Agency)
	Flood Risk Assessments: Applying for Planning Permission (Environment Agency)
	Flood Map for Planning (Environment Agency)
	Flood Risk Assessments: Climate Change Allowances (Environment Agency)
	The Sequential Approach (Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government)
	Planning Policy Wales: Technical Advice Page 15 Development, flooding and coastal erosion
Generic Design Assessment	Guidance on Assessment of New Nuclear Power Stations (Office for Nuclear Regulation)
Groundwater	Groundwater Protection Collection (Environment Agency and Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs)
Land Use Planning	Land Use Planning and The Siting of Nuclear Installations (Office for Nuclear Regulation)
Marine	Planning and Development: Marine Licenses (Marine Management Organisation)
	Marine Planning in England (Marine Management Organisation)
	Explore Marine Plans (Marine Management Organisation)
	Explore Welsh Marine Licensing (Natural Resources Wales)
Meteorological Conditions	Technical Assessment Guide –Meteorological Hazards (Office for Nuclear Regulation)
Nuclear Site Licensing	Nuclear Site Licensing (Office for Nuclear Regulation)
Regulatory Justification	The Justification of Practices Involving Ionising Radiation Regulations 2004 (Department for Energy Security & Net Zero)
Water Resources	A National Framework for Water Resources (Environment Agency)
	Water abstraction and impoundment licences (Natural Resources, Wales)
	Water Abstraction Plan (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs)
	Abstraction Licensing Strategies (Environment Agency)
	Apply for a Water Abstraction or Impounding Licence (Environment Agency)

5. Matrix of the Criteria, Technical Considerations and Impacts; and the Bodies to be Engaged

Each criterion, technical consideration and impact will require engagement with numerous bodies. These are set out below in a matrix. Please note that this may not be exhaustive and serves as a general guide – there may be project-specific differences. ^{[footnote 38]}

Consideration	Body to be engaged
		CAA	Cadw	EA	HE	HSE	LA	MoD	MMO	NE	NG	NPAs	NRW	ONR (a)	PINS	Water (Wco)
Factors influencing site selection	Population density					✔								✔
	Proximity to military activities							✔
	Flooding, tsunami and storm surge (b)			✔			✔						✔	✔
	Coastal processes			✔			✔		✔	✔			✔	✔
	Proximity to major hazard sites and major accident hazard pipelines					✔								✔
	Proximity to civil aircraft movements	✔												✔
	Designated sites of ecological importance (c)			✔						✔			✔
	Areas of amenity and landscape value				✔		✔			✔		✔	✔
	Areas of heritage significance		✔		✔		✔
	Size of site			✔					✔	✔			✔	✔
	Access to suitable sources of cooling			✔					✔	✔			✔	✔
Technical considerations	Proximity to civil aircraft	✔												✔
	Access to transmission networks										✔
	Size of site to accommodate construction and decommissioning			✔					✔	✔			✔	✔	✔
	Population density and locational characteristics													✔
	Seismic hazards and ground instability													✔
	Emergency planning													✔
	Meteorological conditions													✔
Impacts	Flood risk (b)			✔			✔						✔	✔	✔
	Water quality and resources			✔					✔	✔			✔			✔
	Coastal change			✔			✔				✔		✔
	Biodiversity and geological impacts			✔					✔	✔			✔
	Landscape and visual impacts		✔				✔			✔		✔	✔		✔
	Socioeconomic						✔
	Human health and wellbeing						✔
	Traffic and transport (d)						✔
	Historic environment				✔

6. Contact Details

Organisation a	How to Contact
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)	CAA Airspace Regulation arops@caa.co.uk
CADW	cadwinfrastructure@gov.wales Telephone 0300 025 6000 Address: CADW, Welsh Government, Rhydycar Business Park, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 1UZ
Defence Infrastructure Organisation (MOD)	DIO-Safeguarding-Statutory@mod.gov.uk
Environment Agency (EA)	nuclearnewbuildprogrammesupportoffice@environment-agency.gov.uk
Historic England (HE)	governmentadvice@HistoricEngland.org.uk 4th Floor, Cannon Bridge House, 25 Dowgate Hill, London, EC4R 2YA
Health & Safety Executive (HSE)	npd@hse.gov.uk
Local Authority (LA)	The relevant local authority will depend on the location of the site under consideration.
Marine Management Organisation (MMO)	planning@marinemanagement.org.uk Regional marine planning officers https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/contact-the-marine-planning-team-at-the-mmo
Natural England (NE)	consultations@naturalengland.org.uk 0300 060 3900
National Grid (NG)	assetprotection@nationalgrid.com
National Park Authorities (NPAs)	The relevant national park authority will depend on the location of the site under consideration.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW)	https://naturalresources.wales/guidance-and-advice/business-sectors/planning-and-development/advice-for-developers/our-service-to-developers/?lang=en
Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR)	Contact@onr.gov.uk.
Planning Inspectorate	NIEnquiries@planninginspectorate.gov.uk 0303 444 5000

7. Acronyms

Acronym	Meaning
CAA	Civil Aviation Authority
DAC	Design Acceptance Confirmation
DCO	Development Consent Order
EA	Environment Agency
GDA	Generic Design Assessment
HE	Historic England
HSE	Health and Safety Executive
LA	Local Authority
MMO	Marine Management Organisation
MoD	Ministry of Defence
NE	Natural England
NG	National Grid
NPAs	National Park Authorities
NRW	Natural Resources Wales
NSIP	Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project
NSL	Nuclear Site Licence
ONR	Office for Nuclear Regulation
PINS	Planning Inspectorate
PA	Planning Act
SIP	Significant Infrastructure Project
SoDA	Statement of Design Acceptability
T&CPA	Town & Country Planning Act
WCo.	Water Company
WIA	Wales Infrastructure Act

1. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nationally-significant-infrastructure-projects-2024-pre-application-prospectus. ↩

2. https://www.onr.org.uk/generic-design-assessment/early-regulatory-engagement-on-new-nuclear-projects. ↩

3. https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Advice-Note-11-Annex-H-Evidence-Plans.odt ↩

4. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/planning-act-2008-infrastructure-planning-fees-regulations-2010-cost-recovery-by-the-planning-inspectorate-and-public-authorities ↩

5. A term used to describe the acceptance and support of the local host community for the project. ↩

6. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pre-submission-screening-service-advice-on-planning-proposals-affecting-protected-species ↩

7. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/571/schedule/4 ↩

8. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationally-significant-infrastructure-projects-advice-note-seven-environmental-impact-assessment-process-preliminary-environmental-information-an ↩

9. The consultation bodies are defined in the ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects: Advice on EIA Notification and Consultation” guidance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nationally-significant-infrastructure-projects-advice-on-eia-notification-and-consultation). ↩

10. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nationally-significant-infrastructure-projects-advice-on-habitats-regulations-assessments ↩

11. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/flood-risk-assessment-for-planning-applications ↩

12. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/flood-risk-assessments-climate-change-allowances ↩

13. https://flood-map-for-planning.service.gov.uk/ ↩

14. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework–2 ↩

15. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/flood-risk-assessments-climate-change-allowances ↩

16. As defined in the ‘Flood risk and coastal change guidance’ (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/flood-risk-and-coastal-change#para2) ↩

17. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/flood-risk-and-coastal-change#the-sequential-approach-to-the-location-of-development ↩

18. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/meeting-our-future-water-needs-a-national-framework-for-water-resources ↩

19. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-abstraction-plan-2017/water-abstraction-plan ↩

20. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/water-abstraction-licensing-strategies-cams-process ↩

21. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/water-management-apply-for-a-water-abstraction-or-impoundment-licence ↩

22. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/landscape-and-seascape-character-assessments ↩

23. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/biodiversity-net-gain ↩

24. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nationally-significant-infrastructure-projects-2024-pre-application-prospectus#our-new-pre-application-service ↩

25. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-nuclear-power-plants-generic-design-assessment-guidance-for-requesting-parties/new-nuclear-power-plants-generic-design-assessment-guidance-for-requesting-parties ↩

26. The Energy Challenge Review Report (2006), https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7c63eb40f0b62aff6c1579/6887.pdf ↩

27. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nuclear-sites-rsr-environmental-permits ↩

28. https://naturalresources.wales/permits-and-permissions/non-nuclear-radioactive-substance-sites/apply-for-a-bespoke-permit-for-a-radioactive-substances-site/?lang=en ↩

29. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pre-submission-screening-service-advice-on-planning-proposals-affecting-protected-species ↩

30. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/do-i-need-a-marine-licence ↩

31. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/planning-and-development-marine-licences ↩

32. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/marine-planning-in-england ↩

33. https://explore-marine-plans.marineservices.org.uk/marine-plans-explorer ↩

34. https://www.onr.org.uk/our-work/how-we-regulate/nuclear-site-licensing/ ↩

35. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6479c8ba5f7bb7000c7fa3b0/justification-practices-ionising-radiation-regulations-guidance.pdf ↩

36. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/groundwater-protection ↩

37. https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-policy-and-regulation/industry-licensing/licences-and-licence-conditions ↩

38. (a) Applicants should note that the ONR are to be engaged with on these matters for the purposes of the Nuclear Site Licence, not for the Development Consent Order process.
    (b) Applicants should also engage with District and Borough Councils, Coast Protection Authorities, Water and Sewerage companies, Internal Drainage Boards and Highways Authorities on these matters.
    (c) Applicants should also engage with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on this matter.
    (d) Applicants should also engage with National Highways and the Highways Authority on this matter. ↩