In this morning's press release which I have just seen the Transport Select Committee says that the Ports NPS is not fit for purpose. It should be co-ordinated with policies for road and rail networks. They also criticise the Government for not allowing the Marine Management Organisation - the body which comes into existence in April with marine planning powers - to comment. With no imminent proposals for new ports, the committee questions the haste. It is also unhappy about the evidence base - not enough they say, and no account taken of the recession. They call for a Commons debate on the NPS, which means the Government must hold one.
This is hardly a good start to the new infrastructure planning system. Whilst some opposition can be expected, the Government must have hoped that its first statement would get through the system. What will be the effect on the energy NPSs? In particular, what about the failure there to consult neighbouring authorities (see my earlier post Nuclear NPS - is there a problem).
In the interests of completeness here is a link to the Select Committee's 266 page report.
Comments