DESNZ launches consultation on electricity network infrastructure reforms
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has launched a consultation on proposed reforms to land rights and consents processes for electricity network infrastructure. The reforms aim to accelerate the deployment of future network connections, while ensuring landowners’ rights are protected. This follows a call for evidence held in August–September 2022, which sought feedback on improving current land access, rights and consents processes. The consultation sets out 12 proposed changes, including: (1) extending the standard wayleave term from 15 to 40 years; (2) increasing the permitted development threshold for substations from 29 to 45 m³; (3) shifting tree maintenance responsibilities from landowners to licence holders; (4) revising the criteria for when section 37 consent is required; (5) amending schedule 4 to the Electricity Act 1989 to facilitate the installation of cables in private streets; (6) removing 132 kV wooden pole lines from the nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIP) regime and increasing the NSIP distance threshold from 2 km to 10 km; and (7) expanding access rights to transmission owners, among others. The consultation closes on 2 September 2025.