Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2025 to Question 77318 on Batteries: Storage, for what reason he does not plan to make fire services statutory consultees on planning applications involving battery energy storage sites.

Planning Practice Guidance strongly recommends that battery developers engage with fire services ahead of the submission of their planning application. However, further to dialogue with the National Fire Chiefs Council, government is of the view that making fire services statutory consultees would risk creating disproportionate administrative burdens for the fire services.