Timescales and Evidence
Connection Milestones
What are the milestones and evidence required, and how is the milestone date set?
Milestone timescales work forward from the date you accept UKPN’s connection offer if the connection date is within five years. If you are offered a connection in more than five years’ time, the timescales will be adjusted (see the ENA document for details). The Milestones summary including evidence and timescales are summarised in the table below.
What are the milestones and evidence required, and how is the milestone date set?
Milestone timescales work forward from the date you accept UKPN’s connection offer if the connection date is within five years. If you are offered a connection in more than five years’ time, the timescales will be adjusted (see the ENA document for details). The Milestones summary including evidence and timescales are summarised in the table below.
If your application is subject to NESO Assessment you will need to comply with their requirements before any of the other Milestones are required. NESO Assessment is normally required for Generation Applications at or above 1MW or very large demand connections. We will discuss with you whether your application required a NESO Assessment prior to sending you the quote and how this affects the Milestones. The timescale for you to complete your obligations to meet Milestone 4 for generation is 24 months, and for demand 12 months. The other Milestones will apply from the date you complete Milestone 4.
If your application is subject to NESO Assessment you will need to comply with their requirements before any of the other Milestones are required. NESO Assessment is normally required for Generation Applications at or above 1MW or very large demand connections. We will discuss with you whether your application required a NESO Assessment prior to sending you the quote and how this affects the Milestones. The timescale for you to complete your obligations to meet Milestone 4 for generation is 24 months, and for demand 12 months. The other Milestones will apply from the date you complete Milestone 4.
| Milestone | Evidence | Timescale (where connection date is within five years) |
|---|---|---|
| Please refer to the ENA Connection Milestones Process document for more details. | ||
| Milestone 1 (M1) - Initiated statutory consents including Planning Permission | Planning Application reference number, viewable on Local Planning Authority (LPA) website. | 2 months from date of offer acceptance. Note that if the LPA requires you to complete any work prior to making the planning application, the timescale will be at least 12 months. |
| Milestone 2 (M2) – Secured statutory consents including Planning Permission | Status of the Planning Application on Local Planning Authority (LPA) website shows ‘Approved’. | 12 months from the date of M1 submission. |
| Milestone 3 (M3) – Land Rights | Evidence the Customer:
|
2 months from date of offer acceptance. |
| Milestone 4 (M4) – NESO Interface | This applies where the application is subject to National Energy System Operator (NESO) assessment (see below) | 12 or 24 months (see above). |
| Milestone 5 (M5) – Contestable Design Works Submission | Submitted contestable design submission (full design unless we agree to accepting partial design). | 6 months after the Planning is approved (M2) or as agreed in the M6 Construction Plan. |
| Milestone 6 (M6) – Provision and agreement of Construction Plan | Customer’s and/or ICP programme of works demonstrating when project construction will commence and complete and how the project will be ready for the connection date. | 6 months after the Planning is approved (M2) or as agreed in the M6 Construction Plan. |
| Milestone 7 (M7) – Project Commitment | Where the DNO is not completing contestable works:
Where the DNO is completing contestable works:
Alternatively, and where applicable, these are other acceptable forms of financial commitment:
|
As agreed with the DNO and included on the Construction Plan (M6). |
| Milestone 8 (M8) – Project Construction | Commencement of substantive works at the customer’s project site. | Commence construction in line with date agreed in the Construction Plan (Milestone M6). |