Amending the threshold for high voltage overhead power lines, Planning Act 2008

The Consultation opened on 18 October 2012 and closed on 28 November 2012. We received nineteen responses, including one from an individual.

As part of the consultation, we held a Stakeholder Event on 12 November 2012 to describe the proposals and give participants more information on them in response to questions. The event was attended by 27 people, including representatives of developers and NGOs.

All the respondents supported amending the Planning Act 2008 as proposed. Several respondents suggested slightly different criteria for an electric line “Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project”. One respondent noted that, as proposed, minor works to some existing lines of would be wholly exempt from consenting applications in certain circumstances, but required to apply for consent under other circumstances although the scale of works would be identical.

We considered all the suggestions very carefully. The detailed responses are set out in the Government Response.