Government Consults on Electricity Network Access and Land Rights

Government publishes consultation on electricity network infrastructure: consents, land access and rights

On 8 July 2025, the government launched a consultation on electricity network infrastructure: consents, land access and rights. The document proposes significant changes to electricity network infrastructure rules that will particularly affect agricultural and rural landowners.

The consultation proposes and seeks views on various aspects of reforms to the processes associated with the building and maintenance of electricity network infrastructure, including:

• Underground Cable Installation in Private Streets, such as removing requirements for property owner consent when installing underground electricity cables in private streets, or private accessways.
• Revised Planning Thresholds for Major Projects, including increasing the maximum size threshold for substations that can be built via permitted development and increasing the distance threshold from 2km to 10km for major project status. This will result in more overhead lines being approved through streamlined local processes rather than national planning.
• Expanded Land Access Rights, including proposals to amend the Electricity Act 1989 so that Licence Holders are responsible for undertaking tree maintenance, rather than landowners.

Proposals also include changing the standard wayleave from 15 years to 40 years by updating its guidance.

The changes aim to accelerate electricity infrastructure development for Net Zero goals by 2030, but represent a shift toward greater compulsory powers over private rural land with agricultural landowners being required to allow access across their land even if the infrastructure is not on their property.

The consultation closes on the 2 September 2025.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Consultation Electricity network infrastructure: consents, land access and rights (8 July 2025)