Cottam Solar Project Examination timetable

The examination timetable gives the dates of events and deadlines for submissions to be made by.

You can have your say during the examination stage of the project.

The examination stage

The examination opened on 5 September 2023

The examination is expected to close on 5 March 2024

Have your say

Upcoming deadlines and events

19 December 2023 - Deadline 3

Open

Deadline 3

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • comments on submissions for Deadline 2
  • updated Statements of Common Ground in clean and tracked changes versions
  • written summaries of oral submissions made at Hearings held during the week commencing 4 December 2023
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Report on the interrelationship with other National Infrastructure projects)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (draft Development Consent Order)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Explanatory Memorandum)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Book of Reference)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Statement of Reasons)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Schedule of progress regarding objections and agreements in relation to Compulsory Acquisition, Temporary Possession, other land rights, and blight)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Schedule of progress regarding Protective Provisions and Statutory Undertakers)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Schedule of the latest versions of the Applicant’s submission documents and documents to be certified)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Schedule of progress in securing other consents)
  • any other information requested by the ExA for this deadline
  • other

16 January 2024 - Examining Authority's Second Written Questions (ExQ2) and Report on Implications for European Sites (if required)

Examining Authority's Second Written Questions (ExQ2) and Report on Implications for European Sites (if required)

Publication of:

the ExA’s Second Written Questions the Report on Implications for European Sites (if required)

30 January 2024 - Deadline 4

Deadline 4

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • responses to the ExA’s Second Written Questions
  • comments on submissions for Deadline 3
  • updated Statements of Common Ground in clean and tracked changes versions
  • written summaries of oral submissions made at Hearings held during the week commencing 4 December 2023
  • the Applicant’s final documents (draft Development Consent Order in the Statutory Instrument template with the Statutory Instrument template validation report)
  • the Applicant’s final documents (Explanatory Memorandum)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Report on the interrelationship with other National Infrastructure projects)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Book of Reference)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Statement of Reasons)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Schedule of progress regarding objections and agreements in relation to Compulsory Acquisition, Temporary Possession, other land rights, and blight)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Schedule of progress regarding Protective Provisions and Statutory Undertakers)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Schedule of the latest versions of the Applicant’s submission documents and documents to be certified)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Schedule of progress in securing other consents)
  • any other information requested by the ExA for this deadline
  • other

13 February 2024 - ExA’s schedule of changes to the draft Development Consent Order

ExA’s schedule of changes to the draft Development Consent Order

Publication by the ExA of: the ExA’s schedule of changes to the draft Development Consent Order

27 February 2024 - Deadline 5

Deadline 5

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • comments on submissions for Deadline 4
  • comments on the ExA’s schedule of changes to the draft Development Consent Order
  • comments on the Report on Implications for European Sites (if required)
  • final Statements of Common Ground in clean and tracked changes versions
  • the Applicant’s final documents (Report on the interrelationship with other National Infrastructure projects)
  • the Applicant’s final documents (Book of Reference)
  • the Applicant’s final documents (Statement of Reasons) *the Applicant’s final documents (Schedule of progress regarding objections and agreements in relation to Compulsory Acquisition, Temporary Possession, other land rights, and blight)
  • the Applicant’s final documents (Schedule of progress regarding Protective Provisions and Statutory Undertakers)
  • the Applicant’s final documents (Schedule of the latest versions of the Applicant’s submission documents and documents to be certified)
  • the Applicant’s final documents (Schedule of progress in securing other consents)
  • any other information requested by the ExA for this deadline
  • other

5 March 2024 - Deadline 6

Deadline 6

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • summary statements from parties regarding matters that they have previously raised during the examination that have not been resolved to their satisfaction
  • comments on submissions for Deadline 5
  • any other information requested by the ExA for this deadline
  • other

5 March 2024 - Conclusion of Examination for Cottam Solar Project

Conclusion of Examination for Cottam Solar Project

The ExA is under a duty to complete the examination of the application by the end of the period of six months beginning with the day after the close of the Preliminary Meeting.

Past deadlines and events

22 August 2023 - Procedural Deadline A

Closed

Procedural Deadline A

Deadline for receipt by the ExA of:

  • Written submissions about how the application should be examined, including the draft Examination Timetable
  • Requests to register for the Preliminary Meeting
  • Requests to register for Open Floor Hearing 1
  • Requests to register for Issue Specific Hearing 1 regarding the draft Development Consent Order
  • Suggested locations for site inspections, including the reason for nomination, issues to be observed there and whether the location(s) require access to private land
  • Other

5 September 2023 - Preliminary Meeting

Closed

Preliminary Meeting

5 September 2023 - Open Floor Hearing 1

Closed

Open Floor Hearing 1

6 September 2023 - Issue Specific Hearing 1 regarding the draft Development Consent Order

Closed

Issue Specific Hearing 1 regarding the draft Development Consent Order

17 October 2023 - Deadline 1

Closed

Deadline 1

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • comments on Relevant Representations
  • Statements of Common Ground requested by the ExA
  • Local Impact Reports from local authorities
  • Written summaries of oral submissions made at Hearings held during the week commencing 4 September 2023
  • Written Representations and summaries for any that exceed 1500 words
  • Requests from Interested Parties to be heard at a further Open Floor Hearing
  • Requests by Affected Persons (defined in section 59(4) of the Planning Act 2008) to be heard at a Compulsory Acquisition Hearing
  • the Applicant’s proposed itinerary for an Accompanied Site Inspection (if required)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (draft Development Consent Order)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Explanatory Memorandum)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Book of Reference)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Statement of Reasons)
  • the Applicant’s reports on progress (Report on the interrelationship with other National Infrastructure projects)
  • the Applicant’s reports on progress (Schedule of progress regarding objections and agreements in relation to Compulsory Acquisition, Temporary Possession, other land rights, and blight)
  • the Applicant’s reports on progress (Schedule of progress regarding Protective Provisions and Statutory Undertakers)
  • the Applicant’s reports on progress (Schedule of the latest versions of the Applicant’s submission documents and documents to be certified)
  • the Applicant’s reports on progress (Schedule of progress in securing other consents)
  • any other information requested by the ExA for this deadline
  • other

31 October 2023 - Publication of Examining Authority's (ExA's) First Written Questions (ExQ1)

Closed

Examining Authority's (ExA's) First Written Questions (ExQ1)

Publication of the ExA’s First Written Questions

21 November 2023 - Deadline 2

Closed

Deadline 2

For receipt by the ExA of:

  • comments on submissions for Deadline 1
  • responses to the ExA’s First Written Questions
  • updated Statements of Common Ground in clean and tracked changes versions
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Report on the interrelationship with other National Infrastructure projects)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (draft Development Consent Order)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Explanatory Memorandum)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Book of Reference)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Statement of Reasons)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Schedule of progress regarding objections and agreements in relation to Compulsory Acquisition, Temporary Possession, other land rights, and blight)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Schedule of progress regarding Protective Provisions and Statutory Undertakers)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Schedule of the latest versions of the Applicant’s submission documents and documents to be certified)
  • the Applicant’s updated documents (Schedule of progress in securing other consents)
  • any other information requested by the ExA for this deadline
  • other

4 December 2023 - Reserved week for Hearings commencing Monday 4 December 2023

Closed

Reserved week for Hearings commencing Monday 4 December 2023

Time reserved for hearings and an Accompanied Site Inspection (if required: Issue Specific Hearings Compulsory Acquisition Hearing Open Floor Hearing Accompanied Site Inspection

5 December 2023 - Issue Specific Hearing 2 - Environmental Matters

Closed

Issue Specific Hearing 2 - Environmental Matters

5 December 2023 - Issue Specific Hearing 3 - Environmental Matters

Closed

Issue Specific Hearing 3 - Environmental Matters

6 December 2023 - Issue Specific Hearing 4 - Environmental Matters

Closed

Issue Specific Hearing 4 - Environmental Matters

7 December 2023 - Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 1

Closed

Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 1

7 December 2023 - Open Floor Hearing 2

Closed

Open Floor Hearing 2

8 December 2023 - Issue Specific Hearing 5 - Draft Development Consent Order

Closed

Issue Specific Hearing 5 - Draft Development Consent Order