Commons Sense

House of Commons · General Debate

Energy Planning 2025-07-10

10 July 2025 · 7 other contributors

Opened by Bill Esterson Lab Sefton Central

Energy

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Bill Esterson raised concerns about energy planning 2025-07-10 in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.

Key points

  • Committee presented a report on energy planning concerns.
  • Emphasized issues with high energy prices and unclear planning processes.
  • Recommended reforms for prioritizing infrastructure projects and early community engagement.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Bill Esterson Lab Sefton Central

Presented the Committee’s first report of this Session, “Gridlock or growth? Avoiding energy planning chaos”. Emphasised concerns about high energy prices for businesses and the need for clarity on how the clean power 2030 action plan and strategic spatial energy plan relate to grid connections and development consent process. Recommended common-sense reform in prioritising projects most likely to deliver needed infrastructure, early community engagement, and proper enforcement of mitigation measures.

Other contributors (7)
  • Wera Hobhouse LD Bath

    Asked about the importance of community support for infrastructure and raised concerns about potential impact on biodiversity and lack of delivery on promised ecological mitigations. Emphasised the need to ensure that the energy transition is delivered in a genuinely nature-positive way.

  • Mike Reader Lab Northampton South

    Emphasised the need for joined-up strategies and plans to deliver at pace while ensuring environmental protections are coherent. Recommended the Department work harder to ensure everything gives one coherent message to the market.

  • Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough

    Questions whether there is an imbalance in the distribution of solar farms, with a focus on Lincolnshire. He mentions that his constituency has been affected by a significant number of solar farm developments and raises concerns about the impact on agricultural land.

  • Rachel Taylor Lab North Warwickshire and Bedworth

    Compliments the Committee for their work, highlighting that National Grid's operations in her constituency echo the report's findings. She supports the Government’s efforts to expedite infrastructure projects through legislation.

  • Claire Young LD Thornbury and Yate

    Raises concerns about ambiguity between central government statements and industry expectations regarding tidal range power generation from the Severn. She suggests that this confusion could hinder the UK's potential to lead in alternative energy generation.

  • Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Lab Suffolk Coastal

    Appreciates the report and discusses an amendment she proposed regarding coordination among developers for major infrastructure projects. She argues that this coordination is essential to manage the cumulative impact of such developments.

  • James Wild Con North West Norfolk

    Expresses concern over the conversion of high-quality agricultural land into energy infrastructure in his constituency and questions why the Government has not prioritised energy security better within national policy statements. He advocates for building infrastructure on brownfield sites instead.

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