Advice to on behalf of Together Against Sizewell C
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- From
- on behalf of Together Against Sizewell C
- Date advice given
- 14 May 2020
- Enquiry type
Dear Sir/Madam, Please find attached a letter sent yesterday to Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP in connection with the impending Sizewell C development consent order and complications relating to the Covid 19 lockdown. This is a copy for your information. With kind regards, Pete Wilkinson Chairman Together Against Sizewell C
Advice given
With regard to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and the arrangements for members of the public to access and view documents relating to the DCO, please note the contents of the Governments Written Ministerial Statement (WMS) of 13 May 2020 which provides updated guidelines regarding digital documentation. The WMS explains that online inspection of documents should be the default position and that developers should take reasonable steps to ensure all members of the public are able to be involved. The Planning Inspectorate’s published guidance has been updated and will continue to be updated as the situation develops: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-planning-inspectorate-guidance The Planning Inspectorate is mindful of the need to ensure both openness and fairness throughout all stages of the DCO process and will continue to highlight this in discussions with the Applicant. The Planning Inspectorate is fully committed to ensuring that everyone can participate fairly. Finally, as you may be aware, when an Applicant submits an application for development consent to the Planning Inspectorate that there then follows a period of up to 28 days for the Planning Inspectorate, on behalf of the Secretary of State, to decide whether or not the application meets the standards required to be accepted for Examination. Should the application be accepted for Examination, it is important to note that if parties then wish to participate in the Examination they would need to register as an Interested Party at the appropriate time during the Pre-examination stage. The Applicant has indicated that it will extend this registration period beyond the statutory minimum of thirty days, if the application is accepted, to allow all parties more time to review the application documents and register their interest before the start of the six month Examination stage. For further information about registering as an Interested Party please see ‘Advice Note 8.2: How to register to participate in an Examination’. https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/legislation-and-advice/advice-notes/