Power lines of 132kV and above in the UK count as "major infrastructure", and consent for them is given by the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC). Parliament approve a suite of National Policy Statements (NPSs) to give directions to the IPC on policy, so that when the IPC comes to decide applications, it decides them on the basis of policies established by Parliament.
NPS EN-5 is the National Policy Statement for Electricity Networks Infrastructure and is therefore the NPS that guides the IPC on policy relating to EMFs.
See NPS EN-5 on DECC's website
NPS EN-5 in summary
NPS EN-5 endorses the policies of compliance with the relevant exposure guidelines in the UK - ICNIRP in the terms of the EU Recommendation - and of optimum phasing. It refers to the two Codes of Practice for the necessary practical details to apply these policies.
NPS EN-5 in more detail
What it says on the science:
"2.10.6 The balance of scientific evidence over several decades of research has not proven a causal link between EMFs and cancer or any other disease. The HPA CRCE keeps under review emerging scientific research and/or studies that may link EMF exposure with various health problems and provides advice to the Department of Health on the possible need for introducing further precautionary measures.
2.10.7 The Department of Health’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) does not consider that transmission line EMFs constitute a significant hazard to the operation of pacemakers.
2.10.8 There is little evidence that exposure of crops, farm animals or natural ecosystems to transmission line EMFs has any agriculturally significant consequences. "
What it says on granting consent to power lines
"Before granting consent to an overhead line application, the IPC should satisfy itself that the proposal is in accordance with the guidelines, considering the evidence provided by the applicant and any other relevant evidence."
and
"Where the applicant cannot demonstrate that the line will be compliant with the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002, with the exposure guidelines as specified in the Code of Practice on compliance, and with the policy on phasing as specified in the Code of Practice on optimal phasing then the IPC should not grant consent."
What it says on undergrounding
"It is not the Government’s policy that power lines should be undergrounded solely for the purpose of reducing exposure to EMFs. Although there may be circumstances where the costs of undergrounding are justified for a particular development, this is unlikely to be on the basis of EMF exposure alone, for which there are likely to be more cost-efficient mitigation measures."
What it says on mitigation
"However, where it can be shown that the line will comply with the current public exposure guidelines and the policy on phasing, no further mitigation should be necessary."
The "routemap"
NPS EN-5 provides a decision flow diagram for the IPC to assess EMF aspects of consent applications:
