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Advice to Pinsent Masons LLP

Enquiry

• From: Pinsent Masons LLP
• Date advice given: 19 October 2017
• Enquiry type: Email

I have a query about some of the Regulation 5 plans – specifically the Location Plan and the historical/ecological plans.

Due to the scale of both the project, and the search area for these topics, some of these plans will need to be at a smaller scale that 1:2500 as required by the Regulations in order that the appropriate context can be seen for the location of the Scheme, historical assets and ecological sites.

I am seeking to ensure that despite this that scale bars and north arrows are included in all these plans, but it will not be feasible to change the plan scale.

In light of the above, please could you confirm that it would be acceptable for such smaller scale plans to be submitted?

Advice given

An application can only be accepted for examination if the application is of a standard that the Secretary of State considers satisfactory. Applications can be accepted if there are minor discrepancies.

Whether an application is of a satisfactory standard is a decision that is made after it is submitted. There is precedent for the plans you mention to be submitted at a smaller scale, and for the application to be accepted for examination. You may wish to explicitly justify departures of this sort in the covering letter to your application.

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