Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the Property Value Protection Scheme in meeting its objectives in communities affected by proposals for a Geological Disposal Facility; and what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the scheme provides adequate assurance and protection for homeowners.

The Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) Property Value Protection (PVP) scheme is a discretionary property support scheme designed to assist eligible homeowners who have a compelling need to sell but are unable to do so other than at a substantially reduced price as a result of the GDF siting process in their community. It draws on comparable schemes used for major infrastructure projects.

The scheme is delivered by NWS, and applications are assessed against clear eligibility criteria by an independent panel. There are opportunities to review the scheme as the programme progresses. NWS continues to engage with local communities to raise awareness and support potential applicants, helping to ensure the scheme operates fairly and consistently.