Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that renewable energy developments are subject to appropriate oversight, transparency and accountability before planning applications are approved.

The Secretary of State makes planning decisions for renewable energy projects that are Nationally Significant, as defined by the Planning Act 2008.

Planning cases are judged on the need case for the infrastructure, weighed against local impacts, local and national planning policy. The Energy National Policy Statements, approved by Parliament, set the need case for this infrastructure and all the considerations that must be applied when deciding applications. We updated relevant National Policy Statements in 2025 and legislated through the Planning and Infrastructure Act to ensure they are updated at least every five years.