The UK Department for Transport has opened a public consultation on proposed amendments to the National Policy Statement for Ports (NPSP). The original document was published in January 2012. Since then, significant changes have impacted on the sector. The updated draft NPSP proposes structural reforms aimed at bolstering the resilience, sustainability, and efficiency of England’s ports, and Milford Haven in Wales, within the framework of nationally significant infrastructure projects.
Although the study is administered by the UK Government, the NPSP covers only English ports. Transport matters are devolved to regional governments elsewhere in the UK. The exception of Milford Haven in Wales is due to its designation as a nationally important installation (as an oil and gas terminal). The public consultation opens today (16 July) with a public webinar hosted by the Department for Transport.
A little less conversation
National Policy Statements were introduced by the Planning Act 2008 to streamline the planning process for nationally significant infrastructure projects. “It was recognised that many planning inquiries and decision processes were spending too long on debating what ought to have been a straightforward understanding of national policy,” said Mike Kane, Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security.
“The UK ports sector is a market-oriented sector,” observed Mike Kane. “This has delivered the port development the country needs at minimal expense to the taxpayer, and therefore that the need for individual developments is a commercial need backed by each port operator’s perception of risk, and willingness to undertake it.”
Key aims of the draft NPSP
Over recent years, significant economic and societal shifts, ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to rapidly changing energy markets and evolving trading patterns, have shaped the operational and strategic landscape for ports. The consultation seeks stakeholder insight to ensure the revised policy remains fit for purpose in light of these transformations.
The government in London says the aims of the draft NPSP are to streamline decision-making. They want to clarify planning expectations to reduce delays and uncertainty for developers. This has been a persistent issue, which has adversely affected all UK infrastructure development, notably the much-maligned HS2 high-speed rail project (see RailTech.com reporting), where planning delays have often been cited as the reason for soaring costs on the London-Birmingham project.
Green energy alignment
Emphasising the role of ports in transitioning to a low-carbon economy and supporting national green-energy ambitions is also a clear aim of the revision. While every port operator already has a commercial imperative to decarbonise their operations, the government has mandated targets for a net-zero economy. It has passed laws aimed at achieving that by 2050. “Major port development can have significant environmental implications, which must be addressed before development consent can be granted,” said Mike Kane.
The minister said that the United Kingdom has been at the forefront of what he called international efforts to recognise and address the importance of the intertidal and marine environment. “This draft amended NPSP reinforces that commitment to the government’s clean energy and growth missions,” he said.
Market-led development works
The government says it’s looking to modernise port planning by embedding clearer guidance, sustainability oversight, and green-energy support. The invitation to take part in the consultation says it does, however, want to maintain flexibility to refine the direction before policy finalisation.
A non-technical Appraisal of Sustainability (a statutory requirement under UK law) highlights that the draft NPSP is likely to deliver “positive effects” in areas such as biodiversity, economy, noise control, climate adaptation, and landscape enhancement. The report also evaluated explicit growth targets, suggesting the current flexible, market-led approach is sufficient. Nevertheless, the consultation remains open until 29 July.