Update - 20 July 2023
Planning Inspectorate's Early Adopter Programme
We're pleased to say that we will be taking part in the Planning Inspectorate's Early Adopter Programme, which is a trial being undertaken to speed up the Development Consent Order (DCO) examination process. Seven other Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects are also taking part.
The Early Adopter Programme has been established to trial a number of document templates and processes with the aim of increasing the efficiency of a future, enhanced pre-application service for DCO applications, which will be provided by the Planning Inspectorate.
We are notifying statutory consultees of our involvement in this trial as it may affect the processes that they will need to undertake prior to and following the submission of our DCO application. Cadent has opted to trial the following activities:
- A template for an application and examination focused Issues Tracker.
- The use of Principal Areas of Disagreement Summary Statements (PADSS) with its consultees, which will be consultee led.
- A template Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP).
Cadent is also required to provide and maintain a programme on its project website and this can be found below.
Please visit the Planning Inspectorate website, using this link here for more information about the Early Adopter Programme.
Involvement in this trial is on a voluntary basis and is non-statutory. The adherence to or production of any of the trial elements is without prejudice to any decision about whether to accept the application for examination which is subject to separate statutory tests under section 55 of the Planning Act 2008.
Updated project programme
| Phase | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| Non statutory consultation | Completed |
| Design updated | Completed |
| Non-statutory consultation report | Completed |
| Statutory consultation | Completed |
| Design updates | Spring to Summer 2023 |
| Statutory Consultation Report | To be published Autumn 2023 |
| Environmental and engineering surveys | Ongoing |
| Targeted consultation | Late Autumn 2023 |
| Design changes | Winter 23/24 |
| Final Consultation Report Drafting | Winter 23/24 |
| DCO Draft documents to PINS for review | Winter 23/24 |
| Environmental Statement Preparation | Autumn-Winter 23/24 |
| DCO application document preparation | Autumn-Winter 23/24 |
| Statements of Common Ground/PADSS | Ongoing |
| Protective provisions | Ongoing |
| Land agreements | Ongoing |
| DCO application submission | End of March 2024 |
| Expected acceptance | End of April 2024 |
| Expected examination | PINS to provide details (2024 to 2025) |
| Pipeline construction contractor appointed | 2024 |
| Expected construction | 2025 to 2027 |
| Expected operation | 2027 to 2028 |
Cadent will seek to gain programme efficiencies where possible. The programme will be updated each month, as required