Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs)
Find out about the NSIP projects underway in Fenland
- What are Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs)?
- How does Fenland District Council get involved with NSIPs?
- Current NSIPs affecting Fenland
What are Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs)?
To be considered nationally significant, the development must meet the size and scale criteria set out in the Planning Act 2008.
NSIPs do not require planning permission from the local authority. The developer must make an application to the Planning Inspectorate for development consent. The Planning Inspectorate examines the application and makes a recommendation to the relevant Secretary of State. It is the Secretary of State who then makes the final decision, guided by National Policy Statements written by the government. These policy statements provide the planning policy framework for different types of NSIPs.
Development consent is often made in the form of a single statutory instrument known as a Development Consent Order.
How does Fenland District Council get involved with NSIPs?
The Council must be consulted on all NSIPs that affect the District. The Planning Team work collaboratively across all service areas of the council to ensure that the full impacts across Fenland are considered. This includes impacts to our:
- economy
- environment
- health and wellbeing of communities
The team also work to ensure that all possible benefits to the District are explored and maximised. Any comments we make must be considered before a Development Consent Order can be issued.
After the Development Consent Order has been issued, the Council may be responsible for discharging the requirements of the Order or monitoring how it is implemented by the developer.
Current NSIPs affecting Fenland
| Project | Stage | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Green Link 3 and Eastern Green Link 4 | Pre-application | Part of this project is in the district. EGL 3 and EGL 4 - two offshore high voltage electricity links and associated onshore infrastructure. |
| Fens Reservoir | Pre-application | Reservoir exceeding 30 million cubic metres of water storage, together with associated development including water transfer pipelines, abstraction facilities, pumping stations, treatment works, renewable energy generation, access roads, parking, wildlife and environmental areas, leisure and recreation and education facilities. |
| Grimsby to Walpole | Pre-application | Part of this project is in the district. 140km long 400kv overhead line and 5 new substations stretching from a new substation to the west of Grimsby in the north to a new substation at Walpole near Wisbech in the south. |
| Medworth Energy from Waste Combined Heat and Power Facility | Post-decision - this application was granted on 20 February 2024 | Energy from Waste combined heat and power facility with a maximum gross capacity of 58MW. |
| Meridian Solar Farm | Pre-application | This project is not located in the district. Solar photovoltaic (PV) and electrical battery storage generating facility with a generation capacity of up to 750MW. |
To find out more about nationally significant infrastructure projects, including how to access the registration page for making comments, read the Planning Inspectorate's having your say guide.
For further questions you can email the Planning Team at planningpolicy@fenland.gov.uk
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