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Advice to Patrick Canavan

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Enquiry

From
Patrick Canavan
Date advice given
24 February 2015
Enquiry type
Email

I have been following the debate over the proposed Navitus Bay development very carefully. Not least because when I bought a house in the area recently this proposal came up on the local searches. I have seen the new visuals showing the Navitus Bay Turbine Area Mitigation Option (630MW) which are very helpful but I have decided to write to you formally to ask if you would consider holding a further public information session after the General Election.

I am concerned that the debate in the media is becoming a political football and that the coverage is not really providing the necessary factual information to the public. Our future energy supply is more important than scare stories about the potential loss of World Heritage status to the Dorset coast. As has been pointed out by my colleague Clare Moody MEP this status is based on its geological significance, not its natural setting. As such Unesco has stated publicly that the proposed development will have no impact on the coast's particular criterion for qualification or World Heritage designation. It seems to me that we need facts not speculation.

Whilst respecting the views of those who are seeking to challenge the Navitus proposal I am concerned that the forthcoming election is causing some to declare their opposition to the development when in fact a more considered view might be more appropriate.

I realise that the timetable of this has been carefully set out but I hope that you might feel able to consider a further opportunity for public engagement once the heat of the General Election has passed.

Advice given

Thank you for your email which relates to a proposed nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP).

I feel it would be useful to explain the process, and the Planning Inspectorates role for dealing with such projects. This advice is provided under s51 of the Planning Act 2008 and as such your email and our reply will be published on the Planning Inspectorate?s website.

Offshore generating stations in England or Wales that have a capacity of more than 100 megawatts are classified as NSIPs. Therefore, for any development of this nature and above the threshold an applicant is obliged to submit an application to the relevant Secretary of State, in this case the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, for development consent under the Planning Act 2008. The application for the Navitus Bay Wind Park was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate on 10 April 2014, and was then subsequently accepted for examination on 8 May 2014.

The Secretary of State?s decision as to whether or not to accept an application for examination must accord with the provisions of section 55 of the Planning Act 2008 (as amended).

The completed s55 checklist that details the Planning Inspectorate?s consideration of whether or not to accept the application can be viewed on our website. Issues related to the merits of the application are considered by an impartial Examining Authority during the examination of the case.

Following acceptance The Secretary of State appointed the ?Examining Authority? to examine the application. The Examining Authority reviewed the application and all relevant representations and identified the principal issues for examination. Following this, the Planning Inspectorate invited all interested parties to attend a meeting, known as the Preliminary Meeting, which was held to consider how the application will be examined. The meeting was held on 11 September 2014, at Tregonwell Hall, Bournemouth International Centre, Exeter Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5BH. The meeting included questions and answers about the key issues that will need to be examined, the timetable for the examination and other important organisational details.

The Examining Authority is now investigating the merits of the application during the examination stage which started the day after the close of the Preliminary Meeting.

The Examining Authority has a statutory duty to complete its examination within 6 months. The examination is a formal legal process, during which careful consideration is given to all the important and relevant matters, including the representations of all interested parties, any evidence submitted and answers provided to questions set out in writing and explained at hearings. The examination is nearing an end and must close by 11 March 2015. All hearings have taken place and there is one final deadline for submissions of 5 March 2015.

Within three months of examination period closing the Examining Authority must prepare a report on the application to the relevant Secretary of State, in this case the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. The report will include a recommendation. The Secretary of State then has a further three months to make the decision on whether to grant or refuse development consent.

The Planning Inspectorate has published a series of advice notes which explain the process, including information on how to get involved. These are available at the following web address: http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/legislation-and-advice/advice-notes. Information about the project can be found on the Planning Portal website address http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/south-east/navitus-bay-wind-park