Committee publication · Correspondence · 11 June 2025 · HC 1028

Letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport relating to the National Policy Statement for Ports, dated 4 June 2025

From: Transport Committee

Inquiry: National Policy Statement for Ports

Summary

The Department for Transport is launching an 8-week public consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny on a draft amended National Policy Statement for Ports (NPSP), alongside a Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations assessment. The NPSP sets the policy framework for Secretary of State decisions on major harbour infrastructure projects in England and reserved trust ports in Wales. The original statement dates from 2012; this revision reflects new legislation and government priorities.

Key findings

  • An 8-week public consultation on the draft amended NPSP is launched 4 June 2025, with Parliamentary scrutiny in parallel
  • The NPSP provides the policy framework for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) for harbours in England and Milford Haven in Wales
  • The draft revision updates legislation and reflects Government Missions on transport investment
  • The Department published an Appraisal of Sustainability and Habitats Regulations assessment alongside the consultation
  • Designation of the amended NPSP is targeted for later in 2025

Tone

Procedural

Topics

infrastructure-planningports-maritimetransport-policyenvironmental-assessment

Key actors

Mike Kane MP, Ruth Cadbury MP, Department for Transport, Secretary of State for Transport, Liaison Committee

Notable line

The draft revised NPSP has been extensively updated to reflect new legislation and sets out the need for continued investment in our national transport networks.

Key Quotes

The NPSP sets out the overall policy framework in which the Secretary of State for Transport makes decisions on applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) for harbours in England and for reserved trust ports in Wales
Mike Kane MP · Explaining the scope and purpose of the National Policy Statement for Ports
The current NPSP was designated in 2012, and a Written Ministerial Statement (WMS) was published in March 2023 announcing that the NPSP would be reviewed.
Mike Kane MP · Providing historical context for the review
We are now launching an 8-week public consultation alongside a process of Parliamentary scrutiny with a view to designating the amended NPSP later in
Mike Kane MP · Outlining the timeline and process for the amended statement
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Source · parliament.uk record ↗

Letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport relating to the National Policy Statement for Ports, dated 4 June 2025 | Beyond The Vote | Beyond The Vote