Government pledges National Policy Statement for Water Resources will bring "clarity and certainty"

Environment secretary, Therese Coffey, has formally designated the National Policy Statement for Water Resources Infrastructure under the Planning Act 2008 declaring it will bring "clarity and certainty" to planning.

In a written statement, Coffey told the House of Commons: "The National Policy Statement (NPS) for Water Resources Infrastructure gives water companies clarity regarding the government’s planning expectations, and added certainty about the areas planning inspectors might consider at a planning inquiry. This also supports the implementation of the government’s Plan for Water and securing our water supplies by enhancing the resilience of water infrastructure.

“The NPS provides a clear framework for those making development consent applications for water resources infrastructure, in particular by setting out the need for infrastructure providing assessment principles against which an application should be examined and determined.

“The next step is for applicants to develop their plans, and then carry out further public consultation as required under the Act. Any application for development consent will of course be considered carefully and with an open mind based on the evidence provided, including through a public examination by the independent Planning Inspectorate, before a final decision is made.”