4th Report - National Policy Statement for Ports

Select Committee
Transport Committee HC 1028 14 November 2025
Report Status Government responded
Conclusions & Recommendations 14 items (10 recs)
Source View on Parliament website
Government Response (AI assessment · 13 of 14 classified)
Accepted 3
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 1
Not Addressed 6
Rejected 1
Government response
National Policy Statement for Ports: Government response to the Transport Committee and Consultation · published 21 Jul 2026
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Recommendations & Conclusions

3 results
3 Recommendation Accepted
Use port freight demand forecasts as guides and incorporate all non-freight activity
Recommendation
Port freight demand forecasts are best used as a guide to inform planning and investment decisions, rather than as rigid constraints. The Government must also ensure that future port demand forecasts incorporate non-freight activity. (Recommendation, Paragraph 17) Interaction with wider … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating it will clarify in the final revised National Policy Statement for Ports (NPSP) that port freight demand forecasts should be used as guides rather than rigid constraints. The response also notes upcoming reviews of DCO thresholds.
Department for Transport
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9 Recommendation Accepted
Revise National Policy Statement for Ports to clarify port freight interface and promote modal shift
Recommendation
The Government should revise the draft National Policy Statement for Ports to articulate more clearly how ports interface with other freight modes, ensuring that planning authorities actively consider modal shift in their decision-making. This should reflect the strategic role of … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government states it is amending the National Policy Statement for Ports (NPS) text to further highlight the importance of coordination with inland transport modes, and that Transport Analysis Guidance will continue to facilitate modelling for modal shift.
Department for Transport
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11 Recommendation Accepted
Strengthen National Policy Statement for Ports to support shore power and electric vessel charging
Recommendation
The Government should strengthen the National Policy Statement for Ports to better support the provision of shore power and electric vessel charging infrastructure as decarbonisation options, recognising the critical interface between ports and the energy grid. It would also assist … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government strongly supports shore power and charging infrastructure, committing to strengthen NPSP guidance on advance provision and clearly state the importance of designing new facilities with shore power and charging in mind. It also acknowledges grid capacity challenges and ongoing work.
Department for Transport
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