AQUIND submits Development Consent Order application for AQUIND Interconnector
December 2019
AQUIND submitted a Development Consent Order application to construct an underground and marine electricity interconnector between the south coast of England and Normandy in France, to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) on 14th November 2019. Upon acceptance of the DCO application, the Planning Inspectorate will examine AQUIND’s DCO application before the Secretary of State makes a decision on whether authorisation should be given for the project.
AQUIND Interconnector will have the capacity to transmit approximately 5% of Great Britain’s total annual electricity consumption – enough to keep the lights on in up to 5 million British households. It will also make a significant contribution to the security of Great Britain’s electricity supply and achieve greater affordability by improving competition. It will make significant contribution to the UK and EU climate goals and will help achieve the Paris Agreement objectives by integrating a greater proportion of non-fossil fuel energy sources and intermittent renewables generation into the Great British energy mix, and further reducing CO2 emissions.
Before submitting its application, AQUIND undertook two rounds of extensive consultation on the proposals with a wide range of stakeholders and communities: the first in January 2018 and the second between February and March 2019, to which almost 1,000 residents and stakeholders attended. The latter provided AQUIND with an opportunity to build on the informal consultation that AQUIND undertook in early 2018 and to present updated proposals.
Once the application is accepted, all documents relating to the submission would be available to view on the PINS website at https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/.
Further information regarding the DCO process is available at: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Advice-note-8.0.pdf.
Commenting on the submission of the DCO application, a spokesperson for AQUIND said: “We are pleased to confirm that AQUIND Interconnector has reached another major milestone and recently submitted the Development Consent Order application for the UK part of AQUIND Interconnector to the Planning Inspectorate. We will continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders as the project continues to progress”.
The local community can get in touch with the AQUIND project team to discuss the application via the project’s freephone information line on 01962 893869, via email at aquindconsultation@becg.com or via freepost to ‘AQUIND CONSULTATION’.