Springwell is classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) because it would have a generating capacity above 50 megawatts (50MW). This means we need to apply for a type of planning consent called a Development Consent Order (DCO) to build and operate it.
We consulted on our updated proposals for Springwell between 11 January and 22 February 2024. This consultation was a ‘statutory consultation’ as it was carried out in line with the formal requirements of the Planning Act 2008.
The feedback received, along with further technical work and environmental studies, informed our DCO application which we submitted to the Planning Inspectorate on 20 November 2024. Our DCO application was accepted for examination on 18 December 2024.
This stage of the DCO process is led by the Planning Inspectorate. There are a number of opportunities for you to share your views and get involved.
Our application is currently at the ‘pre-examination’ stage. During this period, anyone can register to participate and be kept informed about the progress of the application by becoming an ‘Interested Party’. This includes the opportunity to submit your views about the application in writing (known as a ‘Relevant Representation’). Relevant Representations inform what will be considered by the Planning Inspectorate during the examination.
The examination takes place over a period of six months and is mostly a written process, which involves the Planning Inspectorate asking Interested Parties to submit information in writing. There are also a number of public hearings, which take place in local venues where Interested Parties can attend and may be invited to speak. The dates and formats of these meetings will be set at a Preliminary Meeting before the examination begins, which all Interested Parties are invited to attend.
Following the examination, the Planning Inspectorate will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State on whether to approve or refuse the application within three months. The Secretary of State then has a further three months to make their decision.
More information on the DCO process, including guidance on how to become an Interested Party, is available via the Planning Inspectorate website: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/detailed-information.