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On Wednesday 11th March, the Government launched a consultation on proposed reforms to handle speculative grid connection applications as the queue for demand connections to the transmission network continues to grow.
The Government highlights that applications for transmission demand connections increased by 460% in the six months to June 2025, with speculative projects inflating the queue and contributing to connection waits of up to 15 years.
The proposed reforms aim to address a rapid increase in demand connection applications - particularly from data centres and other large electricity users - which has significantly increased connection waiting times and created pressure on network capacity. The Government is proposing a set of reforms to reduce speculative applications and prioritise strategically important demand projects, including:
• Stronger entry and milestone requirements for demand connection applications.
• Prioritisation of strategically important projects, with government able to publish a list (expected to include AI Growth Zones, data centres, EV charging hubs and electrified industrial sites) that would move to the front of the queue as capacity becomes available.
• A strategically aligned process for data centre connections, including prioritising facilities located near areas of high grid capacity to reduce the need for additional network infrastructure.
The deadline for responses is 15 April 2026.
