Advice to Various Enquiries
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- From
- Various Enquiries
- Date advice given
- 11 January 2017
- Enquiry type
Comments regarding the proposed Northampton Gateway Rail Freight Interchange
Advice given
Please note that this project is at the pre-application stage and no application has yet been received by the Planning Inspectorate. The developer recently requested a Scoping Opinion from the Secretary of State – the Scoping Opinion contains advice to the developer on how they should undertake the environmental impact assessment for the project, should they wish to take their proposals forward. The list of bodies that the Planning Inspectorate can consult before producing a scoping opinion is largely prescribed by law. This is explained in more detail in our advice note titled ‘EIA Notification and Consultation’ which I have attached to this email.
At this stage therefore the Planning Inspectorate can only accept your email for information purposes. I would encourage you to contact the developer directly to make your concerns known. During the pre-application process the developer will also be required to carry out statutory consultation (under sections 42, 44 and 47 of the Planning Act 2008) before they submit their application to the Planning Inspectorate. This will involve the provision of information about the proposal to various statutory and non-statutory bodies and the wider community, responding to questions, listening to suggestions and taking these into account to influence and inform the application that will ultimately be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate. The Government has published Guidance on the pre-application stage of the process, which can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-the-pre-application-process-for-major-infrastructure-projects
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 https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/legislation-and-advice/advice-notes/ I would draw your attention in particular to advice notes 8.1 to 8.5.
You can receive updates about the project at key milestones by signing-up to email updates on the project page at the following link: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/east-midlands/northampton-gateway-rail-freight-interchange/ By signing up you will receive notifications such as when the application is formally submitted, if the application is accepted to proceed to examination and when the period to register a relevant representation opens and closes. It is advised that in order to stay up to date with the application you regularly visit the project page.