Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

Whether planning approval for nationally significant infrastructure projects is dependent upon having a construction traffic management plan.

As per The Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009, Regulations 5(2)(a), (k), and (o), all applicants seeking development consent for nationally significant infrastructure projects must include a plan identifying any new or altered means of access, stopping up of streets or roads or any diversions, extinguishments or creation of rights of way or public rights of navigation, means of vehicular and pedestrian access, and any car parking to be provided. It is not mandated that this must be called a ‘construction traffic management plan’ but these plans are often labelled as such.

What the process is for designating Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

The thresholds that designate a project as a nationally significant infrastructure project are set out in Planning Act 2008 and spelled out in more detail at the start of the overarching Energy National Policy Statement (EN-1). The thresholds for England are currently: if it does not generate electricity from wind and it is not an offshore generating station, its capacity must be more than 50 megawatts; and, if it is an offshore generating station, its capacity must be more than 100 megawatts. The thresholds for Wales are: if it does not generate electricity from wind, its capacity must be more than 350 megawatts; and, if it is in waters adjacent to Wales up to the seaward limits of the territorial sea, or in the Welsh zone, its capacity must be more than 350 megawatts.

What the minimum threshold of power generation is for a solar park to meet the standard required for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project designation.

For a solar park to be designated as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, the minimum threshold of power generation is currently 50 megawatts. Consent for a solar project under 50 megawatts is applied for under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. In 2024, the Government consulted on whether to raise this threshold and has announced its intention to legislate to increase the threshold for solar projects determined under the NSIP planning regime from 50MW to 100MW.

What the remaining available capacity percentage is of the Eaton Socon sub-station in Cambridgeshire.

The Department does not hold this data, this would be for the Distribution Network Operator (DNO), UK Power Networks. UK Power Networks’ data portal [1] which is publicly available, provides information on all grid supply points, including Eaton Socon substation. [1] https://ukpowernetworks.opendatasoft.com/pages/nodd

What his Department's planned timetable is for the publication of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan.

The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) will be published by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) in 2026.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure landlords are compliant with the need to ensure that new tenancies have an Energy Performance Rating of at least C from 1 April 2025.

The Government will consult shortly on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation will include proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that community benefit funds provide adequate compensation to communities affected by nationally significant infrastructure projects.

It is the Government’s priority to build support for developments by ensuring communities directly benefit, as per the commitment set out in the election manifesto. As such we are reviewing how to most effectively deliver community benefits for communitie...

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a zonal pricing mechanism via the review of electricity market arrangements.

Through the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements, we are exploring several ways to reduce energy bills by making more efficient use of the energy infrastructure we are building.The Government is continuing to assess the benefits and costs of zonal pr...

How much and what proportion of the land to be used for the proposed East Park Energy Solar Farm is designated as agricultural grade (a) 1, (b) 2 and (c) 3a farmland.

This is a proposed Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project and is currently at the pre-application stage of the Planning Act 2008 consent process. This is when the applicant starts to create their application and is required to consult with people a...