Draft National Policy Statement for Ports published

The government announced its draft National Policy Statement for ports on 10 November, which is open to public consultation until 15 February 2010. The documents are very much focused on planning and the way in which both the Infrastructure Planning Commission, which will deal with a relatively small number of very large projects, and the Marine Management Organisation, which is likely to deal with the majority of applications, will handle consents.

The consultation only applies to England and Wales, however the forecasts are for the UK as a whole and would therefore have a bearing on developments throughout the country.

The overall message from the government is a positive one. Embedded in the planning process is an “official” acceptance that considerable long term expansion of port capacity is needed. The ports Statement, was published at the same time as the policy statement for energy infrastructure.

The Commons Transport Select Committee will be scrutinising the proposals and the BPA will be providing evidence to their inquiry.