Upcoming Events :
Seminar: Outsourcing and Contract Procurement
Tue 28 Feb 2012
Minerva House, 5 Montague Close, London, SE1 9BB
IPC takes first decisions on applications
Wed 08 Sep 2010
At the end of last month, the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) took its first preliminary decisions on the two applications so far submitted to it.
Plans to create a waste to energy facility in Rookery South in Bedfordshire have been allowed to proceed to face the examination process, but the Western Power Distribution Project to install a power line near Neath has been stalled.
In rejecting the Neath application, the IPC underlined the need for applicants to "produce applications of the highest standard to allow the IPC to carry out robust and efficient examinations of applications".
It concluded that the draft development consent order had been prepared with insufficient rigour.
IPC chairman Sir Michael Pitt has commented that developers must show they have put in sufficient time and effort during the pre-application stage in order to ensure their submission "measures up".
Richard Bull, a Senior Solicitor at Winckworth Sherwood, who is currently advising clients on the IPC commented: "The fact that the IPC has flexed its muscles in rejecting one of the first applications submitted to it at the pre-examination stage sends a big signal to developers that they must comply with all the pre-application requirements before submitting an application - the pre-application preparation has to be exceptionally rigorous."
