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Planning and development
Here you will find gas-related guidance for national, regional, and local planning authorities and other statutory consultees. We are regularly consulted on issues of local, regional, and national importance. We also must comply with various planning systems when we have to consider the location, installation, and removal of equipment used as part of our high-pressure gas transmission network.
We enjoy open and constructive dialogue with many planning authorities and interested parties. We are always keen that you approach us as soon as possible if you have a land use or planning issue that you wish to discuss.
We encourage developers, designers, and contractors to contact Plant Protection when planning any excavation works close to our pipelines. We can provide free:
- Technical guidance
- Asset information, and
- Essential safety information.
We also provide a free service to mark out the location of our pipelines.
We aim to give you an overview here of how we operate and how we can help you.
New asset protection enquiry service is now available
You can find our asset protection enquiry service to LinesearchBeforeUDig.
Enquiries made with LinesearchBeforeUDig will search the assets of over 70 different utility companies, providing an efficient and accessible service for our customers.
The Electricity and Gas Location Enquiry System (EAGLES) portal previously operated by Cadent Gas is no longer available, though any existing enquiries you may have within it will continue to be dealt with by us.
What do I need to do now?
To receive guidance and asset maps, please now register with LinesearchBeforeUDig to raise an enquiry with them. You’ll receive an automated response within minutes informing you which network operators are affected by your proposal. If the proposal affects National Gas Transmission, you'll also receive a separate automated response from us with an asset map and links to safety advice. We will then contact you in due course if we require more information about your proposal.
In some instances, your works may be found to affect both National Gas Transmission and Cadent Gas assets. Where this is the case, National Gas Transmission and Cadent (via LinesearchBeforeUDig) will respond separately to advise you of your next steps.
We value the relationships that we have with our customers and want you to be able to work safely near our assets. If you have any questions about the above, please contact us at [email protected] or at 01926 654844.
Dial before you dig
If you are a farmer, landowner, or otherwise working on land, you can find out more about working around our network equipment by downloading the Dial Before You Dig guide.
Line search
If you will be working close to a National Grid asset, or are unsure if you will be, please visit the Linesearchbeforeudig website to enquire with us about the nature of your works
Developing infrastructure
Find out more about how we develop our infrastructure by reading these documents:
Development Plan Document consultations
We have appointed Avison Young to review and respond to planning authority Development Plan Document consultations on our behalf.
To help ensure the continued safe operation of existing sites and equipment and to facilitate future infrastructure investment, National Gas Transmission wishes to be involved in the preparation, alteration and review of plans and strategies which may affect our equipment.
We ask that planning authorities remember to consult us on any Development Plan Document or site-specific proposals that could affect our infrastructure by emailing Avison Young at the address below
[email protected]
Community consultation
We consult with local interest groups and residents whenever we are planning works that will have a high impact on a residential area or a site valued for its amenity. This also helps us to identify environmental issues that can be taken into account and more effectively mitigated.
For consultation to be most effective, it is done at an early stage where the results can be used to influence the design of a project.
When undertaking works that will have a less significant impact, we liaise with and inform affected residents according to the severity of that impact. We will take into account local biodiversity action plans and other local initiatives being undertaken by local communities.
Under the provisions of the Planning Act 2008 we have a duty to consult and engage with communities and stakeholders. We have decided to integrate our amenity duties and our community/stakeholder engagement duties into one document, which covers how we will meet these duties.
We have recently reviewed our Schedule 9 statement. In preparing this revised version, we have consulted statutory bodies, non-government organisations, and representatives of other stakeholder groups. We have also drawn on our own experiences of delivering a wide range and scale of gas projects. Read more:
Download Our stakeholder, community, and amenity policy document
Certain types of energy infrastructure fall within the categories of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), which require a Development Consent Order (DCO) under the Planning Act 2008. For National Gas Transmission, NSIPs include new pipelines. Applications for DCOs are submitted to and examined by the Planning Inspectorate and determined by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Where we undertake gas works to connect a new energy customer, and their project is an NSIP, it may be possible for our network reinforcements to form part of the customer’s DCO application. Where we have an NSIP proposal that is needed for a variety of reasons (not just to meet the needs of a single customer), or involves network reinforcements in advance of anticipated future energy developments, it will often be necessary for us to apply separately for a DCO.
Other types of new energy infrastructure might require planning permission from local planning authorities. Examples can include new compressor stations, pressure reduction installations, block valves, and other above ground installations on our gas network.
Major extensions to sites like these, together with temporary construction access onto classified roads, may need planning permission. Where such works are needed in connection with a proposed NSIP, it may be possible to incorporate them into the DCO application as 'associated development'.
New or modified accesses on to classified roads, temporary or permanent culverts, outfalls and other drainage works may also require planning permission from the local planning authority.
We, as a statutory undertaker, benefit from Permitted Development rights under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, which allows us to undertake certain works without needing to submit applications for planning permission.
This includes works to existing gas sites, including the installation of plant and equipment, and installation of new or extensions to existing buildings, subject to limitations. Permitted development rights also allow the installation of buried gas pipelines subject to location, length and any likely significant environmental effects.
Permits or licences may be required from the Environment Agency or Natural Resources Wales for works in flood zones, where flood defenses are affected, or where rivers and watercourses are crossed. Under local by-laws, approvals may be required from local drainage boards. Permits may also be required in relation to the operation of gas compressor sites.
Licenses may be required when undertaking works in the vicinity of protected species and assents required when undertaking works within in or near to ecologically designated areas.
With the agreement of the relevant consenting bodies, permits or licences (secondary consents or approvals) may also be included in DCO applications to the Planning Inspectorate as 'ancillary matters'.
The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 established marine planning and licensing authorities across the UK. The Marine Management Organisation (England), Natural Resources Wales, and Marine Scotland are responsible for their respective territorial waters, including inshore (from Mean High Water to 12 nautical miles) and offshore (12 to 200 nautical miles).
A marine licence might be needed for activities in or over the sea, or on or under the seabed, which can include the installation of pipelines or investigatory work such as intrusive surveys. Depending on the nature of the proposals there may also be overlaps with other consenting regimes, particularly where infrastructure comes ashore. Certain activities are exempt from requiring marine licences.
With the agreement of the marine authorities, permits, or licences may also be included in DCO applications to the Planning Inspectorate as 'ancillary matters'.