Accepted application - effect of screening opinion not taking account of all relevant information16

1

Where—

a

an Examining authority F1... is examining an application for an order granting development consent; and

b

paragraph (2) applies,

the Examining authority F1... must comply with the requirements in paragraph (3).

2

This paragraph applies if—

a

the proposed development has been the subject of a screening opinion to the effect that it is not EIA development; and

b

the Examining authority F1... is of the view that the screening opinion did not take into account information that is material to the decision as to whether the proposed development is EIA development.

3

The requirements mentioned in paragraph (1) are that—

a

the Examining authority F1...must suspend examination of the application until it has adopted a further screening opinion F2...;

b

if the Examining authority F1...considers that there is insufficient information with which to adopt an opinion F2..., the Examining authority F1... must request the applicant to provide additional information;

c

the Examining authority F1...must adopt an opinion F2... provided there is sufficient information with which to do so.

4

Where pursuant to paragraph (3), the Examining authority F1... adopts a screening opinion F3... to the effect that the proposed development is EIA development the Examining authority F1... must—

a

issue with the opinion F3... a written statement giving clearly and precisely the full reasons for that conclusion and requesting the provision of an environmental statement;

b

send to the applicant a copy of the opinion F3... and a copy of the written statement mentioned in sub-paragraph (a);

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d

suspend examination of the application until the requirements of paragraph (5) are satisfied.

5

The requirements mentioned in paragraph (4)(d) are that the applicant must—

a

provide the Examining authority F1... with a copy of the environmental statement;

b

publish a notice (in accordance with paragraph (c)) which sets out the following information—

i

the name and address of the applicant;

ii

that the applicant has made an application to the F6Secretary of State for an order granting development consent for EIA development;

iii

that the F6Secretary of State has accepted the application and the reference number of the application;

iv

that examination by the Examining authority F1... has been suspended until an environmental statement has been provided and publicised;

v

a summary of the main proposals, specifying the location or route of the proposed development;

vi

that the environmental statement are available for inspection free of charge at the places (including at least one address in the vicinity of the proposed development) and times set out in the notice;

vii

the latest date on which those documents will be available for inspection (being a date not earlier that F7the deadline referred to in sub-paragraph (b)(x);

viii

whether a charge will be made for copies of any of those documents and the amount of any charge;

ix

details of how to respond to the publicity;

x

a deadline for receipt of responses being not less than 28 days following the date on which the notice is last published;

c

publish the notice—

i

for at least two successive weeks in one or more local newspapers circulating in the vicinity in which the development is situated;

ii

once in a national newspaper;

iii

once in the London Gazette and if land in Scotland is affected, the Edinburgh Gazette; and

iv

in the case of offshore development, once in Lloyds List and once in an appropriate fishing trade journal;

d

display the notice at, or as close as reasonably practicable to, the site of the proposed development at a place accessible to the public;

e

where the proposed development consists of, or includes, a linear scheme exceeding five kilometres in length, display the notice at intervals of not more than five kilometres along the whole proposed route of the works, except where this is impracticable due to the land being covered in water;

f

serve on any person of whom the applicant has been notified under regulation 9(1)(c) a notice containing the information specified in sub-paragraph (b), except that the date specified as the latest date on which the documents will be available for inspection must not be less than 28 days later than the date on which the notice is first served;

g

send to the consultation bodies a copy of the environmental statement and a notice setting out the information specified in sub-paragraph (b)(i) to (v);

h

inform those bodies—

i

how and to whom they may make representations;

ii

of the deadline for making representations which must be not less than 28 days later than the last date on which the additional information was sent in accordance with sub-paragraph (g);

i

certify to the Examining authority F1...in the form set out in certificate 2 in Schedule 5 that the applicant has complied with the requirements of sub-paragraphs (b) to (h).

6

Regulation 9 (procedure to facilitate preparation of environmental statements) applies to an application for an order granting development consent for EIA development that has been suspended under paragraph (4), subject to the following modifications—

a

in paragraphs (1), (3) and (5) of regulation 9, for “the F6Secretary of State”, in each place, substitute “ the Examining authorityF5... ”;

b

in regulation 9(2)—

i

sub-paragraph (a) shall not apply;

ii

in sub-paragraph (b) for “the F6Secretary of State” substitute “ the Examining authority ”.

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