The Planning Inspector has today accepted EDF's application for a Development Consent Order for the construction of their 3,260MW scheme at Sizewell C in Suffolk.
This will commence the pre-examination stage, which will enable the public to register as an Interested Party. Once Interested Parties have submitted their Relevant Representations a Preliminary Meeting will be chaired by the Examining Authority. Whilst no timescales are formally set for this stage, it often lasts for three months.
Following this, the Planning Inspectorate has up to six months to carry out their examination. During this time the Interested Parties are invited to provide further details of their views in writing. The Examining Authority will then review all of the important information and relevant matters including the representations. They will then prepare a report which will be sent to the Secretary of State, which will include their recommendation. The Secretary of State then has three further months to make a decision, whether to grant or refuse Development Consent.