The National Policy Statements should give significant weight to the availability of a grid connection, as a paramount consideration in determining where electricity generation projects can be located. However, by the same token, where a project has not yet secured a grid connection, the prospects of doing so should also be a material consideration weighing for or against the grant of development consent. NESO may need to provide the Secretary of State with information to ensure that this que...

The National Policy Statements should give significant weight to the availability of a grid connection, as a paramount consideration in determining where electricity generation projects can be located. However, by the same token, where a project has not yet secured a grid connection, the prospects of doing so should also be a material consideration weighing for or against the grant of development consent. NESO may need to provide the Secretary of State with information to ensure that this question is considered accurately, fairly and efficiently within the development consent process. • The Government should strengthen the existing guidance i Type: recommendation | Number: 11 | Response status: accepted Government response: The overarching energy NPS EN-1 contains guidance on how applicants should manage securing a grid connection for their proposed development and the interaction with their application for development consent. EN-1 Section 4.11 states that the Secretary of State sho