Policy paper

National Policy Statement: water resources infrastructure

Policy for developing nationally significant infrastructure projects for water resources in England.

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Published
8 July 2025
Last updated
14 July 2025 鈥� See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-5905-5, E03405510

PDF, 910 KB, 106 pages

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Details

This National Policy Statement is an update to the 2023 National Policy Statement for water resources infrastructure.听

This National Policy Statement (NPS) aims to:聽

  • streamline the planning permission process for nationally significant water infrastructure projects聽
  • enable new water supply infrastructure聽
  • provide planning guidance for applicants聽

罢丑别鈥�NPS鈥痠s the primary basis for examination by the Examining Authority. It鈥檚 used by the Secretary of State to consider development consent applications for nationally significant water resource infrastructure projects.听

罢丑颈蝉鈥�NPS鈥痠s supported by an Appraisal of Sustainability and a Habitats Regulations Assessment. These documents can be made available on request from鈥� water.resources@defra.gov.uk.

Updates to this page

Published 8 July 2025
Last updated 14 July 2025 show all updates

  1. Replaced the document 鈥楴ational Policy Statement for water resources infrastructure鈥�. The paper was withdrawn and re-laid to correct the reference to the legislation section on the cover page.

  2. First published.

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