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Advice to Henry Brooks

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Enquiry

From
Henry Brooks
Date advice given
8 March 2012
Enquiry type
Email

Please kindly register me as an interested party in the above and confirm accordingly.

Advice given

Please be advised that as the project has not yet been submitted, the period to register as an Interested Party has not yet opened. Only once an application has been submitted and accepted to go forward to examination will members of the public and organisations be able to register.

The proposed A556 Knutsford to Bowden Scheme is currently at the pre-application stage of the process. As you are aware the Highways Agency is currently consulting with local communities on their proposal in accordance with the duties which the Planning Act 2008 places upon them. At this stage, I would suggest that engaging in this consultation is the most appropriate action. Their project website can be accessed via the following link: http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/14909.aspx

If, following submission of the application, the IPC accepts the application for examination, there will be an opportunity to register your views with the IPC and participate in the examination by completing a relevant representation form. Details about how and when to register will be publicised by the developer in local newspapers and via on site notices. Further project information, including how to register, will also be available on the IPC website at the relevant stage.

The Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) aims to run an inclusive examination process and we would encourage anyone with an interest in a project to register at the relevant time as an interested party. This allows individuals or groups to participate fully in the examination process. Under the Planning Act 2008 it is for the developer to decide when the period to register as an interested party starts and ends, but they must allow at least 28 days for people to make their relevant representations.

For further information on the IPC and the specifics of the process which is to be followed you may wish to read advice that we have published. All of our advice is available via our website at www.infrastructure.independent.gov.uk.

At this stage I would suggest reading the attached advice notes, namely 8.1 (how the process works), 8.2 (how to have your say on a major infrastructure proposal) and 8.5 (The examination process) which will provide you with further information pertaining to your query.

Additionally, should the application be accepted for examination, the IPC will at this point establish a dedicated Twitter news feed for the project. This would inform you of all major application milestones, such as information regarding relevant representations, at the appropriate times. Finally the IPC would arrange a number of events in the local community to inform people how to register as an interested party. These events will be publicised in the local press, through posters displayed locally and on our website. I trust this response is helpful. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to call our helpline.

Furthermore as of 1 April 2012, as part of the Localism Act, the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) will be abolished and a new National Infrastructure Directorate will be created within the Planning Inspectorate, an agency of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The move to the Planning Inspectorate will be seamless and the examination of applications for major infrastructure projects will not be delayed. You should however note that as from 1 April 2012 any correspondence about major infrastructure projects will be addressed from the National Infrastructure Directorate, Planning Inspectorate. Please find attached hereto a ?flyer? detailing the IPC?s move to the Planning Inspectorate.