Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Aviation,
Maritime and Security) (): Today (4 June 2025), I am
laying before Parliament the draft amended national policy
statement for ports (NPSP).
The extant NPSP was designated in 2012. It sets out the need for
development of ports in England and at reserved trust ports in
Wales, currently Milford Haven. The NPSP provides guidance for
applicants in preparing and for the Secretary of State in
determining applications for development consent orders
(DCOs) for sea
port applications.
The previous government announced a review of the current NPSP in
a written ministerial statement in March 2023. In light of our
missions and priorities, this government has continued that
review and has decided to amend the document.
Today, I have launched a public consultation on a
draft revised NPSP, along with an appraisal of sustainability
(AoS) and
habitats regulations assessment (HRA). These are subject
to a public consultation period of 8 weeks and to Parliamentary
scrutiny in parallel. My department is also publishing port
freight demand forecasts for the United Kingdom as a whole, to
which the draft NPSP refers. The documents are available on
GOV.UK.
I will place copies of the public consultation document, the
appraisal of sustainability, and the habitats regulation
assessment in the libraries of the House. The public consultation
will close on 29 July 2025. The relevant period for parliamentary
scrutiny will be from 4 June to 14 November 2025.
The review of the NPSP is proceeding in parallel with our wider
programme of planning reforms, including the Planning and
Infrastructure Bill currently before this House, designed to
expedite and facilitate decision-making and stimulate growth and
green energy transformation.
