Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussion he has had with National Grid Electricity Transmission on the siting of new substations and the consenting process for renewable projects under the Development Consent Order regime.

The Secretary of State has not held discussions with National Grid Electricity Transmission on the siting of new substations or the consenting process of renewable projects.

In his quasi-judicial role in determining Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) applications for Development Consent Orders, he cannot comment on the merits of projects to avoid prejudicing the decision-making process.

Network developers are responsible for determining the siting of new substations in line with relevant national policy, including the National Policy Statement for electricity networks (NPS EN-5).

The Planning Act 2008 sets out the legislative framework for the NSIP consenting process.