Development Consent Order & four other permits enter next stageGloucester, June 29, 2018 --- Horizon Nuclear Power's plans to build its lead project, Wylfa Newydd, have been formally accepted for consideration by the Planning Inspectorate. In addition, four other key environmental permits have been cleared to begin their assessment by Natural Resources Wales.
Duncan Hawthorne, CEO of Horizon Nuclear Power, said: This is a significant milestone for Horizon and an important step on the path to having all the permissions we need to build Wylfa Newydd.
The power station will not only deliver huge benefits for Anglesey, where it will provide top-quality employment for local people and significant opportunities for local businesses, but it will also play a key role in the UK's energy future, delivering much-needed low carbon, safe and secure power for decades to come.
The DCO process now formally starts with the Pre-Examination phase. This is where members of the public are invited by the Planning Inspectorate to become an Interested Party by making a Relevant Representation. An Examining Authority is also appointed at the Pre-Examination stage, and all Interested Parties will be invited to attend a Preliminary Meeting, run and chaired by the Examining Authority.
Horizon's application for a Marine Licence, Operations Combustion permit, Operations Water Discharge permit and Construction Water Discharge permit were duly made by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and have now progressed to the next stage of their respective determination processes, with NRW having launched a public consultation process.
The approvals come after the Ministerial Statement made to the House of Commons by Rt. Hon. Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy confirming that Wylfa Newydd is the next project in the UK's nuclear new build programme and announcing the commencement of formal negotiations between Horizon and the UK Government on financing support for the project.
It also follows the positive Opinion' from the European Commission for the Wylfa Newydd project under Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty which stated that the station will not have significant health or environmental impacts on other Member States.
For more information, please contact:
Ben Russell
07580 948 106
ben.russell@horizonnuclearpower.com
Notes to Editors:
About Horizon Nuclear Power
Horizon Nuclear Power was formed in 2009 to develop new nuclear power stations in the UK. It was acquired by Hitachi, Ltd. in November 2012. The company is developing plans to build at least 5,400MW of new nuclear power generation plant at Wylfa on the Isle of Anglesey and Oldbury-on-Severn in South Gloucestershire. Its power station sites will employ up to 850 people each once operational with construction workforces of up to 9,000.
About the Development Consent Order Process
The Planning Act 2008 DCO process was introduced to streamline the decision-making process for major infrastructure projects, making it fairer and faster for communities and applicants alike.
Following Horizon's three rounds of Pre-Application Consultation and the Planning Inspectorate's Acceptance of the DCO submission, the four remaining stages in the process are:
Pre-examination
At this stage, the public will be able to register with the Planning Inspectorate to become an Interested Party by making a Relevant Representation. A Relevant Representation is a summary of a person's views on an application, made in writing. An Examining Authority is also appointed at the Pre-examination stage, and all Interested Parties will be invited to attend a Preliminary Meeting, run and chaired by the Examining Authority. Although there is no statutory timescale for this stage of the process, it usually takes approximately three months from the Applicant's formal notification and publicity of an accepted application.
Examination
The Planning Inspectorate has up to six months to carry out the examination. During this stage Interested Parties who have registered by making a Relevant Representation are invited to provide more details of their views in writing. Careful consideration is given by the Examining Authority to all the important and relevant matters including the representations of all Interested Parties, any supporting evidence submitted and answers provided to the Examining Authority's questions set out in writing or posed at hearings.
Recommendation and Decision
The Planning Inspectorate must prepare a report on the application to the relevant Secretary of State, including a recommendation, within three months of the close of the six-month Examination stage. The relevant Secretary of State then has a further three months to make the decision on whether to grant or refuse development consent.
Post decision
Once a decision has been issued by the relevant Secretary of State, there is a six-week period in which the decision may be legally challenged. If a challenge is successful, this would lead to a process known as Judicial Review.
More information on the process can be found here: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/application-process/the-process/
Horizon's DCO submission can be viewed here:
https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/Wales/Wylfa-Newydd-Nuclear-Power-Station/
About the Marine Licence and environmental permits
The Marine Licenceland environmental permits are granted by Natural Resources Wales.
The environmental permits required by Horizon are:
Operations Combustion permit
Operations Water Discharge permit
Construction Water Discharge permit
These permits and licence applications are subject to an examination process which involves public consultation.
More information on the process can be found here: https://naturalresources.wales/per
