Abstract
DONG Energy (the Applicant) has applied to the Secretary of State for a development consent order (DCO) under section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 (as amended) for the proposed Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm. The Secretary of State has appointed an Examining Authority (ExA) to conduct an examination of the application, to report its findings and conclusions, and to make a recommendation to the Secretary of State as to the decision to be made on the application.
The relevant Secretary of State is the competent authority for the purposes of the Habitats Directive and the 2010 Habitats Regulations for applications submitted under the Planning Act regime (as amended). The findings and conclusions on nature conservation issues reported by the Examining Authority will assist the Secretary of State in performing their duties under the Habitats Regulations.
This report compiles, documents and signposts information provided within the DCO application, and the information submitted throughout the examination by both the Applicant and interested parties. It is issued to ensure that interested parties including the statutory nature conservation bodies, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)/ Natural England (NE)/ Natural Resources Wales (NRW)/ Scottish National Heritage (SNH), are consulted formally, as appropriate, on habitats regulations matters. This process may be relied on by the Secretary of State for the purposes of Regulation 61(3) of the Habitats Regulations.