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Advice to Ferdinando Giammichele

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Enquiry

From
Ferdinando Giammichele
Date advice given
19 April 2013
Enquiry type
Email

s51 advice following issue of the acceptance decision.

Advice given

As discussed this afternoon following the acceptance of the Burbo Bank Extension Offshore Wind Farm application we would like you to meet with you as soon as is practicable, we discussed the possibility of the 29 or 30 April, to discuss the Environmental Statement (ES) and the Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) report.

Whilst the ES and the HRA report are considered to be adequate for the purposes of acceptance, our s.55 acceptance checklist (published on the project page of our website today) notes that the description of the project as defined in the ES and HRA report does not clearly distinguish between the environmental effects of development arising from this Development Consent Order (DCO) application alone and the effects of the broader project of which this DCO application forms part. We also note that the scope of matters considered in the ES and HRA report differ.

Amongst other matters, this raises potential questions about how effects of the DCO application alone and those arising cumulatively with the related connection infrastructure in Wales/Welsh waters and with other unrelated projects have been distinguished in the ES, and where mitigation has been identified as required, whether this needs to be secured through the requirements of the DCO or through separate consents or licences.

We advise that it would be highly desirable for you to address this matter prior to the start of the examination. This could help ensure that you are ready for examination by enabling you to clarify and resolve any potential issues in relation to the presentation of effects of the DCO application and proposed mitigation, including if necessary discussing this with the relevant statutory nature conservation bodies and other consultees, before the examination commences.

To this end, we would encourage you to meet with us ASAP so that we can provide s51 advice about the steps that you may now wish to take, and how this interacts with your s56 notice.

I would be grateful if you can confirm your availability to meet with me and my environmental service team colleagues in Bristol ASAP.

Please note the content of this email constitutes advice under s.51 of the PA 2008, and so will be published on the planning portal website.