NEWS STORY

11 April, 2012

SKM Enviros supports the first Development Consent Order for a Biomass power station

SKM Enviros has supported the successful submission of the first Development Consent Order (DCO) application for a biomass power station to be accepted for examination by the National Infrastructure Directorate (NID) of the Planning Inspectorate.

SKM Enviros has been providing Renewable Energy Systems (RES) with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), engineering and technical support for the development of the DCO application for a 99.9 MW biomass power station at Battleship Wharf, North Blyth, Northumberland.

As the power station will generate more than 50 MW of electricity, it is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), under the Planning Act 2008.

On 1 April 2012, under the Localism Act 2011, the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) was abolished and the Planning Inspectorate became the agency responsible for operating the planning process for NSIPs in England and Wales.

Any developer wishing to construct an NSIP must first apply for consent to do so. For such projects, the Planning Inspectorate examines the application and will make a recommendation to the relevant Secretary of State, who will make the decision on whether to grant development consent.

To date, the IPC/Planning Inspectorate has only granted one DCO with a further eleven other applications currently undergoing examination, now by the Planning Inspectorate. This application will be the first biomass/thermal generation power station project to be accepted for examination by the IPC or Planning Inspectorate.

If granted, the DCO will combine planning permission with a range of other consents, including a Marine Licence.

SKM Enviros is now preparing the Environmental Permit application that will be submitted to the Environment Agency.

For more information contact Mark Brown.