Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of data centres opting into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects scheme on local (a) decision-making and (b) accountability.

The NSIP consenting process provides substantial opportunities for interested parties, including local communities and local authorities, to “have their say” on proposals that go through the NSIP consenting process. Under the Planning Act 2008, local authorities are invited to submit a local impact report, giving details of the likely impact of the proposed development on their area, which the Secretary of State must have regard to when deciding the application.

The examination process, which all NSIP applications need to go through, provides opportunity for local communities, interested parties, and statutory bodies to make representations and for them to be considered by the Examining Authority in their examination of the application and subsequent report, which will then be made to the Secretary of State for a decision whether to grant development consent.