Minister of State for Transport (): I have been asked by my Right Honourable Friend,
the Secretary of State, to make this Written Ministerial
Statement. This statement confirms that it has been necessary to
extend the deadline for the decision on the Application by
National Highways under the Planning Act 2008 for the A66
Northern Trans-Pennine Development Consent Order.
Under section 107(1) of the Planning Act 2008, the Secretary of
State must make his decision within three months of receipt of
the Examining Authority’s report unless exercising the power
under section 107(3) to extend the deadline and make a Statement
to the House of Parliament announcing the new deadline.
The Secretary of State received the Examining Authority’s report
on the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Development Consent Order
application on 7 August 2023. The current deadline for a decision
is therefore 7 November 2023.
The deadline for the decision is to be extended
to 7 March 2024 (an extension of 4
months).
The reason for the extension is to allow for further
consideration of matters including those not resolved at the time
the Examining Authority's Report was received by the Secretary of
State. This will include the consideration of information
submitted by the Applicant regarding impacts on the North Pennine
Moors Special Area of Conservation, to ensure compliance with the
Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.
The decision to set a new deadline is without prejudice to the
decision on whether to give development consent for the above
application.
