Examination Process Starts

The independent examination process of the Abergelli Power project started yesterday (10 October 2018) and over the next few months a series of hearings will be hosted by a Planning Inspector to examine Abergelli Power’s application for a Development Consent Order. 

The hearings, which will be held whenever possible at the Village Hotel in Swansea, are open to the public, and will be attended by Abergelli Power, the City and County of Swansea Council, Natural Resources Wales and other registered parties.

Anyone is welcome to attend and view the proceedings, regardless of whether they have previously participated in the Examination. If you wish to attend and speak at hearings, you should notify the Planning Inspectorate in advance, by the deadline specified in the Examining Authority’s letter. If a person has not registered as an Interested Party and wishes to speak at the hearing, it is at the discretion of the Examining Authority whether or not to allow this. Details of the examination process (including dates of future meetings) can be found via the Planning Inspectorate’s website or by contacting the Planning Inspectorate case team on 0303 444 5000.

At Wednesday’s preliminary meeting, the Planning Inspector outlined the process that he will follow over the coming months. At the end of the examination period, the Inspector will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, as to whether or not the Project should proceed, with the final decision on whether a Development Consent Order should be granted resting with the Secretary of State. A decision could be expected in the Q3 2019.