Stantec’s takeaways from the new National Policy Statement for water resources infrastructure
04/21/2023 UNITED KINGDOM TSX, NYSE:STN
04/21/2023 UNITED KINGDOM TSX, NYSE:STN
Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, is sharing its initial takeaways from the release of the Government’s long-awaited National Policy Statement (NPS) for nationally significant water resources projects.
The NPS will form the basis for decision-making on Development Consent Order (DCO) applications for the construction of new, or the expansion of existing, water resources infrastructure in England or in waters adjacent to England. It aims to streamline the planning permission process for nationally significant water infrastructure projects.
It provides assessment principles, as well as more detailed guidance on the construction and operational impacts of these projects.
Stantec’s Infrastructure planners and advisers from the Company’s Water teams have reviewed the NPS and outlined their initial takeaways as being:
For schemes referred into the regime that are not defined in a WRMP, a thorough evidence base will be required including a rigorous assessment of ‘need’ and any alternative options. It is unclear if the NPS will prevent legal challenge on the need and alternatives of schemes defined in the WRMPs, and further evidence may be required to supplement the WRMPs as a precautionary approach.
In England, the NPS may be a ‘material’ consideration for water resources infrastructure development applications applied for under the Town and Country Planning Act, which will be judged on a case-by-case basis.
Stantec provides a range of interdisciplinary planning and consultancy services to support the delivery of vital water infrastructure in the UK and around the world.
Mark Tindale, Stantec’s Strategy Director for Water in the UK&I commented: “In the last year, we have seen how critical it is that we accelerate the delivery of new water infrastructure to support the nation’s resilience in the years ahead.
“This statement, and the guidance within, are certainly welcome and will likely prove to be important in keeping these projects on track. We will need to keep this momentum up to ensure these schemes are driven through the planning process and are operational as soon as possible.”
Gareth Wilson, Stantec’s Infrastructure Planning Director, added: “This is a long anticipated and welcome publication on the Government’s policy position for water infrastructure projects. It provides important clarification for the industry and will allow the planning of projects to proceed with greater confidence.
“We would caution that the DCO (and the Town and Country Planning Act) consenting processes remain challenging and promoters should look to reinforce their case at all stages to minimise the prospect of challenge and delay. This is all the more important as we look ahead to the emerging reforms to the consenting and environmental assessment processes.”
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Media Contact
Calum Metcalfe
Stantec UK Media Relations
calum.metcalfe@stantec.com