Policy paper

National Policy Statement for Geological Disposal Infrastructure

Policy framework providing the basis for planning decisions on geological disposal infrastructure for the long-term management of higher activity radioactive waste.

• From: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
• Published: 4 July 2019
• Last updated: 17 October 2019 — See all updates

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

Documents

National Policy Statement for Geological Disposal Infrastructure: a framework document for planning decisions on nationally significant infrastructure

PDF, 936 KB, 106 pages

Equality analysis for the National Policy Statement for Geological Disposal Infrastructure

PDF, 261 KB, 8 pages

Habitats Regulations Assessment of National Policy Statement for Geological Disposal Infrastructure (final)

PDF, 1.4 MB, 108 pages

Appraisal of Sustainability of the National Policy Statement for Geological Disposal Infrastructure (Post Adoption Statement)

PDF, 541 KB, 42 pages

Details

Geological disposal infrastructure includes:

• any deep geological facility for disposing of higher activity radioactive waste – geological disposal facilities
• the deep borehole investigations needed to characterise the geology at a particular site to assess its suitability for a geological disposal facility

The National Policy Statement sets out:

• the need for infrastructure related to the geological disposal of higher activity radioactive waste in England and the government’s approach to delivering it
• planning guidance for developers of nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) related to geological disposal

The National Policy Statement will be used as the primary basis for the examination by the Examining Authority, and for decisions by the Secretary of State, in considering development consent applications for geological disposal infrastructure that fall within the definition of a NSIP as set out in section 14(1)(q) and section 30A of the Planning Act 2008 (‘the Planning Act’).

See also:

The Written Ministerial Statement 17 October 2019: Infrastructure update

The National Policy Statement for Geological Disposal Infrastructure consultation, including the summary of responses

The National Policy Statement for Geological Disposal Infrastructure: government response to BEIS select committee report

The Written Ministerial Statement 4 July 2019: Infrastructure update

Published 4 July 2019
Last updated 17 October 2019 + show all updates

1. 17 October 2019

   Appraisal of Sustainability and Habitats Regulations Assessment reports published.

2. 4 July 2019

   First published.