Advice to Graham Farley
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- From
- Graham Farley
- Date advice given
- 7 December 2017
- Enquiry type
Could the department please clarify procedure for a Nuclear New Build projected for Bradwell in Essex.
The Government has given the project the go-ahead subject to planning.
Now the developer has submitted documents to Maldon Council for planning for groundwork investigation and our concern is that the site is surrounded by European protected sites and a MCZ yet there is no EIA.
There is an ecological statement which is frustratingly redacted for certain species on site. The site is also a 'contaminated site' next to the old Bradwell Magnox site so a linked site with potential radioactive contamination. Maldon Council are aware of contamination but are relying on developer supplied data not their own.
I understand its up to the Council whether to declare this is as a 'special site' and if so its passed to the EA but relying on developer data alone seems to be avoiding legal obligations on the Council’s part.
Data supplied by the developer for planning supports concerns over site contamination, further adding that contamination through drilling could breach water courses effecting protected sites.
Our concern is that for a NIP there is no early public engagement and questions hang over planning procedures. The process appears biased from the start as Maldon Council have from the beginning announced support for the project.
Maldon Council stated to me that no EIA is required as this is not a planning application to build the new reactor but purely groundworks.
Surely at this stage we are looking at pre consultation work, the documents provided by the developer all refer to Bradwell B New Build and there is an obligation to meet Environmental Impact Assessment: Screening, Scoping and Preliminary Environmental Information.
Clarification of planning in this matter would be appreciated. This is going to planning on Thursday of next week.
Advice given
Please see the attached meeting note