The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has formally designated the National Policy Statement (NPS) for water resources infrastructure – the NPS sets out policies for developing nationally-significant infrastructure projects for water resources in England.

Image: Thames Tideway Tunnel 

The National Policy Statement (NPS) aims to:

• streamline the planning permission process for nationally-significant water infrastructure projects
• enable new water supply infrastructure
• provide planning guidance for applicants

Defra previously consulted on the draft National Policy Statement for water resources infrastructure. 

The NPS, which was designated on 18 September 2023, will be used as the primary basis for examination by the Examining Authority - the Authority for nationally significant infrastructure projects in England is the Planning Inspectorate.

It will also be used for making decisions by the Secretary of State in considering development consent applications for water resources infrastructure, that qualify as nationally significant infrastructure projects, including reservoirs, desalination plants and infrastructure designed to transfer water.

Click here to download National Policy Statement for water resources infrastructure