title: "NPS EN-4 - Gas Supply Infrastructure and Gas and Oil Pipelines" type: wiki source: desnz canonical: ~/knowledge/sources/desnz/nps-en-4.md url: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-policy-statement-for-natural-gas-supply-infrastructure-and-gas-and-oil-pipelines-en-4/national-policy-statement-for-natural-gas-supply-infrastructure-and-gas-and-oil-pipelines-en-4 date: 2024-01-17 tags: [nps, planning-act-2008, nsip, gas-supply, lng, pipelines, gas-storage, hydrogen, ccus]
NPS EN-4 - Gas Supply Infrastructure and Gas and Oil Pipelines
National Policy Statement designated 17 January 2024. Governs Secretary of State decisions on nationally significant gas and oil infrastructure in England (and limited categories in Wales and Scotland) under the Planning Act 2008 Development Consent Order regime. Replaces the 2011 version.
Works alongside EN-1 (Overarching NPS), which carries the need case and generic impact assessment framework. EN-4 provides technology-specific assessment guidance for the four infrastructure categories it covers.
What EN-4 Covers
Four types of nationally significant infrastructure:
- Underground gas storage and LNG facilities: storage capacity 43+ Mcm, or flow rate 4.5+ Mcm/day.
- Gas reception facilities: flow rate 4.5+ Mcm/day for gas received in gaseous form from outside Great Britain.
- Gas transporter pipelines: diameter over 800mm and length over 40km (or significant environmental effects); pressure over 7 bar gauge; serving 50,000+ customers.
- Oil and gas pipelines: length over 16.093km requiring Pipelines Act 1962 authorisation.
In Wales, Secretary of State decides categories (i) and (iv) only. In Scotland, category (iv) cross-border pipelines only. Northern Ireland is devolved.
NSIP Thresholds
Thresholds derive from Planning Act 2008 Sections 17-20:
| Category | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Underground gas storage / LNG | 43 Mcm capacity OR 4.5 Mcm/day flow rate |
| Gas reception facilities | 4.5 Mcm/day flow rate |
| Gas transporter pipelines | > 800mm diameter AND > 40km length |
| Oil and gas pipelines | > 16.093km under Pipelines Act 1962 authorisation |
Applications go to the Planning Inspectorate as DCOs. EN-4 must be given substantial weight by the Examining Authority.
Key Considerations by Infrastructure Type
Underground Gas Storage (salt caverns, depleted fields, aquifers)
- Detailed geological assessment required.
- For salt caverns: depth, thickness, purity, and overlying strata integrity.
- Brine disposal hierarchy: underground reuse preferred; sea disposal only as last resort.
- COMAH top-tier status likely. Hazardous substance consent required for storage above 15 tonnes.
- Climate resilience (flooding, subsidence, sea level rise) must be demonstrated over asset lifetime.
LNG Import Facilities
- Deep-water jetty, large onshore site, and NTS pipeline access required.
- Noise assessment includes underwater noise from carrier operations.
- Marine dredging: magnitude, frequency, and method assessed; Marine Conservation Zones evaluated.
- Tank design: countersunk or squat tanks recommended to reduce visual impact on surrounding area.
- Marine Management Organisation licensing required alongside DCO.
Gas Reception Facilities
- Siting determined by proximity to subsea pipeline landfalls or interconnectors.
- Zero routine flaring and venting standard applies to new developments.
- NSTA consent required for flaring and venting.
- Electric motors preferred over gas turbines for noise and emissions.
- Typically top-tier COMAH sites.
Oil and Gas Pipelines
- Desktop study required for route selection; minimise impacts on residential areas, schools, hospitals.
- Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 apply; ALARP risk standard.
- Construction-phase noise, vibration, and HGV traffic must be assessed.
- Watercourse crossings, hedgerows, and woodland individually assessed for biodiversity impact.
- Above-ground installations (compression stations, pumping stations) require full EIA.
Hydrogen Treatment
EN-4 extends the NSIP consent requirement to hydrogen pipelines and storage (including blended hydrogen/gas) at the same thresholds as categories (i), (iii), and (iv). However, EN-4's assessment guidance explicitly does not apply to hydrogen infrastructure. The need case for hydrogen sits in EN-1 Section 3.4.
This creates a gap: a large hydrogen pipeline or storage project needs DCO consent but has no designated NPS assessment framework. The Secretary of State must determine appropriate weight without settled policy. A dedicated hydrogen NPS or EN-4 amendment is the logical next step.
CO2 Pipelines
CO2 pipelines above the category (iv) threshold require DCO consent under EN-4. Assessment guidance for CCS infrastructure is at EN-1 Sections 3.5 and 4.9. EN-4's own guidance does not apply to CO2 pipelines, but may be relevant by analogy.
Role Alongside EN-1
EN-4 cannot be read without EN-1. EN-1 provides: - The statutory need case that EN-4 adopts by reference (Section 2.1.6: "need has been demonstrated"). - Generic assessment principles (EN-1 Part 4). - Generic impact assessment guidance (EN-1 Part 5, Sections 5.2-5.16): noise, biodiversity, water, coastal change, and other common impacts. - Need cases for hydrogen (EN-1 Section 3.4) and CCUS (EN-1 Section 3.5).
EN-5 (Electricity Networks) is relevant where gas infrastructure projects require associated grid connections.
Designation Note
The 2024 EN-1 was withdrawn January 2026 and replaced by a 2025 version. EN-4 remains in force. For applications accepted after 6 January 2026, the 2025 EN-1 governs the overarching framework; EN-4 technology-specific guidance is unaffected.