The Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017

Determination of application: timing E+W

32.—(1) The relevant authority must determine the application within a reasonable time after the relevant authority has all the information and evidence necessary to reach the reasoned conclusion on the significant effects of the development on the environment referred to in regulation 7(1)(d) and to determine the application (including, where a public inquiry under the Electricity Act 1989 is held in relation to the application, the inspector's report).

(2) But the relevant authority must not determine the application before the latest of the following dates—

(a) the latest date given under the Electricity Act 1989, or stated in any notice published under that Act or regulations 22 or 26 of these Regulations, as the date by which objections or representations may be made in relation to the application;

(b) 30 days after the date on which every person to whom the developer is required to send a copy of the following documents receives a copy—

(i) the EIA report (see regulation 23(2)(a));

(ii) any further environmental information (see regulation 26(7)(a));

(c) the date on which any reasonable period for the authorities and public of an EEA state to make representations referred to in regulation 24(4) ends or, if later, the date on which any consultations with an EEA state referred to in regulation 24(5) end.