Pre-Application - what you need to do
Connection Milestones
Milestones only apply when you accept your connection offer from us, and that could be up to six months after your initial application, but once you have accepted the offer we would expect you to have prepared to meet the earlier milestones, specifically Planning Application (Milestone 1) and Land Rights (Milestone 2) unless your application is subject to a Transmission Assessment by NESO (see below).
- Planning
We would urge customers to discuss their proposed project with the Local Planning Authority before making an application to identify whether the planning application would be subject to any pre-planning requirements. We will extend the timescale for Milestone 1 to reflect this extra work you need to complete prior to making the planning submission. - Land Rights
We would urge applicants to obtain a Heads of Terms with the landowner prior to application to get an in-principle agreement with the current landowner that the land will be available for purchase or lease for the connection.
- NESO Assessment
If your connection is subject to a NESO Transmission Assessment your contact will discuss the details of this with you.
We would suggest you discuss the specifics of your project with your UKPN contact at the latest during the application stage, but ideally earlier, for example during any pre-application surgeries, or when any budget estimates or feasibility work is completed.
Connection Milestones represent key stages of most new projects, but some milestones may not apply to a particular project, for example if you are upgrading or developing an existing connected site you are likely to already have a secured lease or freehold for the site (Land Rights Milestone 2 may then not be required), or the work may be covered by Permitted Developments of the existing planning permission (Planning Permission Milestones 1 and 3 may therefore not be required).
Where your application is for a Phased Connection (you intend to build your development in plots, phases or stages) the pre-construction Milestones will normally apply to the first phase. Subsequent phases will be reflected in Milestone 6 Construction Plan.
Milestones only apply when you accept your connection offer from us, and that could be up to six months after your initial application, but once you have accepted the offer we would expect you to have prepared to meet the earlier milestones, specifically Planning Application (Milestone 1) and Land Rights (Milestone 2) unless your application is subject to a Transmission Assessment by NESO (see below).
- Planning
We would urge customers to discuss their proposed project with the Local Planning Authority before making an application to identify whether the planning application would be subject to any pre-planning requirements. We will extend the timescale for Milestone 1 to reflect this extra work you need to complete prior to making the planning submission. - Land Rights
We would urge applicants to obtain a Heads of Terms with the landowner prior to application to get an in-principle agreement with the current landowner that the land will be available for purchase or lease for the connection.
- NESO Assessment
If your connection is subject to a NESO Transmission Assessment your contact will discuss the details of this with you.
We would suggest you discuss the specifics of your project with your UKPN contact at the latest during the application stage, but ideally earlier, for example during any pre-application surgeries, or when any budget estimates or feasibility work is completed.
Connection Milestones represent key stages of most new projects, but some milestones may not apply to a particular project, for example if you are upgrading or developing an existing connected site you are likely to already have a secured lease or freehold for the site (Land Rights Milestone 2 may then not be required), or the work may be covered by Permitted Developments of the existing planning permission (Planning Permission Milestones 1 and 3 may therefore not be required).
Where your application is for a Phased Connection (you intend to build your development in plots, phases or stages) the pre-construction Milestones will normally apply to the first phase. Subsequent phases will be reflected in Milestone 6 Construction Plan.