What happens next
Dates for the Examination can be viewed on the Examination Timetable page.
Notice of the Procedural Decision has been issued by the Examining Authority to Interested Parties in the Rule 8 letter; this includes information about how the Examination will be conducted and the Examination Timetable as currently set out.
16/11/2023 - Deadline for close of examination, Examination ends16/02/2024 - Deadline for Planning Inspectorate to submit recommendation. See the Examination Timetable for further information.
If you have a legal interest in land affected by a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project and:
- have not been identified by the Applicant; and
- did not register to become an Interested Party;
then you can make a request to the Examining Authority to become an Interested Party under s102A of the Planning Act 2008.
Timeline (48 items)

The recordings and transcripts of Issue Specific Hearing 5 held on 28 September 2023 have been published.
The Examination Library (PDF, 677 KB) has been updated.

The recordings and transcripts of Issue Specific Hearing 4 held on 27 September 2023 have been published.
The Examination Library (PDF, 665KB) will be updated shortly.

The recordings and transcripts of Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 2 and Issue Specific Hearing 4 both held on 26 September 2023 have been published.
The Examination Library (PDF, 665KB) has been updated.
The Agenda for Issue Specific Hearing 5 (ISH5) (PDF, 189KB) have been published.
For those wishing to observe any of the ISH5 in real time please use the following livestream link: https://cvslivestream.co.uk/mallardpass/ Please note that the Hearings will start broadcasting LIVE once they open. If the livestream does not initially work it may be resolved by refreshing the webpage. If you have any issues with accessing the livestream please contact the Case Team: [email protected]

The recordings and transcripts of Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 2 and Issue Specific Hearing 4 both held on 26 September 2023 have been published.
The Examination Library (PDF, 661KB) will be updated shortly.

Instructions for those who have registered to speak (either in person at the venue or virtually via MS Teams) at Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 2, Issue Specific Hearing 4 and/or Issue Specific Hearing 5 in w/c 25 September 2023 have been sent. If you no longer wish to speak at the Hearings please let the Case Team know.
The Agendas for Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 2 (PDF, 139KB), Issue Specific Hearing 4 (PDF, 138KB) and Issue Specific Hearing 5 (PDF, 189KB) have been published.
For those wishing to observe any of the Hearings in real time please use the following livestream link: https://cvslivestream.co.uk/mallardpass/ Please note that the Hearings will start broadcasting LIVE once they open. If the livestream does not initially work it may be resolved by refreshing the webpage. If you have any issues with accessing the livestream please contact the Case Team: [email protected]

The Deadline 6 Submissions have been published, including Tony Orvis withdrawal of Deadline 5 submission (PDF, 97KB)
The examination library (PDF, 662KB) has been updated.

The Agendas for Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 2 (PDF, 139KB), Issue Specific Hearing 4 (PDF, 138KB) and Issue Specific Hearing 5 (PDF, 189KB) have been published.
The Examination Library (PDF, 1MB) has been updated.

The deadline 5 submissions have been published, including National Grid Electricity Distribution’s withdrawal of Objections (PDF, 84KB)
The examination library (PDF, 641KB) has been updated.

The Applicant’s Notice for hearings (PDF, 74KB) for the week commencing 25 September 2023 has been published.
To take part in the hearings, please register by using this form by 23:59 on Monday 18 September 2023.
The Examination Library (PDF, 589KB) has been updated.

The Examining Authority’s (ExA) Rule 13 letter (PDF, 166KB), providing information regarding the notification of hearings w/c 25 September 2023 has been published.
The Examination Library (PDF, 573KB) has been updated.

The Examining Authority’s Second Written Questions (PDF, 675KB) has been published. The Deadline for responses is 5 September 2023 (Deadline 5).
The Examination Library (PDF, 586KB) has been updated.

The Itinerary for the Accompanied Site Inspection Thursday 17 and Friday 18 August 2023 (PDF, 3MB) has been published.

The Deadline 4 submissions have been published.
The Examination Library (PDF, 523KB) will be updated shortly.

The Examining Authority’s (ExA) Rule 16 letter (PDF, 186KB) providing notification of an Accompanied Site Inspection on 17 and 18 August 2023 has been published.
The Examination Library (PDF, 523KB) has been updated.

The recordings and transcripts of Issue Specific Hearing 1 (ISH1), 2 (ISH2), 3 (ISH3) and Compulsory Acquisition Hearing (CAH1) have been published.
The Action Points from ISH1, ISH2, ISH3 and CAH1 (PDF, 162KB) have been published.
The Examination Library (PDF, 501KB) will be updated shortly.

Instructions for those who have registered to speak (either in person at the venue or virtually via MS Teams) at Issue Specific Hearings 1 (ISH1), 2 (ISH2) and 3 (ISH3), and/or Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 1 (CAH1) in w/c 10 July 2023 have been sent. If you no longer wish to speak at the Hearings please let the Case Team know.
The Agendas for Issue Specific Hearing 1 (ISH1) (PDF, 111KB), 2 (ISH2) (PDF, 113KB) and 3 (ISH3) (PDF, 159KB) and the Agenda for Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 1 (CAH1) (PDF, 157KB) has been published.
For those wishing to observe any of the Hearings in real time please use the following livestream link: https://cvslivestream.co.uk/mallardpass/ Please note that the Hearings will start broadcasting LIVE once they open. If the livestream does not initially work it may be resolved by refreshing the webpage. If you have any issues with accessing the livestream please contact the Case Team: [email protected]

The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept the following late submission from the Applicant: 9.13 Introduction to Applicant’s Responses to Interested Parties’ Deadline 2 Submissions (PDF, 372KB)
The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept the following Additional Submission from National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc: Response to ExA’s First Written Questions (PDF, 64KB)
The Examining Authority has also accepted the following clarifications from the Applicant:
- Appendix J of the Appendices to the Applicant’s Response to Interested Parties’ Deadline 2 Submissions (PDF, 37MB) has been relabelled to correctly identify this as ‘Swept Path Analysis at B1081 / Ryhall Road Junction’
- 1.2.4 Guide to the Application – Revisions 3 and 4 incorrectly refer to the date of the current version of the Funding Statement as 15/06/2023. However there have been no updates to the Funding Statement submitted with the Application [APP-022]
The Examination Library (PDF, 510KB) has been updated.

The Deadline 3 submissions have now been published.
The Agendas for Issue Specific Hearing 1 (ISH1) (PDF, 111KB), 2 (ISH2) (PDF, 113KB) and 3 (ISH3) (PDF, 159KB) have been published.
The Agenda for Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 1 (CAH1) (PDF, 157KB) has been published.
The Examination Library (PDF, 471KB) will be updated shortly.

To take part in the hearings week commencing 10 July 2023, please register by using this form by 23:59 on Monday 3 July 2023
The Examination Library (PDF, 454 KB) has been updated.

The Deadline 2 submissions have now been published.
The Examination Library (PDF, 247 KB) will be updated shortly.

The Applicant’s Notice for hearings (PDF, 53KB) for the week commencing 10 July 2023.
To take part in the hearings, please register by using this form by 23:59 on Monday 3 July 2023.
The Examination Library (PDF, 299 KB) will be updated shortly.

The Examining Authority’s (ExA) Rule 13 letter (PDF, 170KB), providing information regarding the notification of hearings w/c 10 July has been published.
The Examination Library (PDF, 299 KB) will be updated shortly.

The Deadline 1 submissions have now been published.
The Examination Library (PDF, 247 KB) will be updated shortly.
The following individuals: Christopher Williams, Richard Williams, Robert Ian Williams (PDF, 135KB) have been granted Interested Party Status under s102A of the 2008 Planning Act.

The following documents have been published:
- The Examination Timetable (Rule 8 letter) (PDF, 292KB).
- The Examining Authority’s First Written Questions (PDF, 592KB). The Deadline for responses is 15 June 2023 (Deadline 2).
- The Preliminary Meeting Note (PDF, 528KB)
- The note of Unaccompanied Site Inspection 2 (PDF, 159KB) (USI2) – 18 May 2023
The Examination Library (PDF, 244KB) has been updated.

The following documents have been published:
- The Examination Timetable (Rule 8 letter) (PDF, 292KB).
- The Examining Authority’s First Written Questions (PDF, 592KB). The Deadline for responses is 15 June 2023 (Deadline 2).
- The Preliminary Meeting Note (PDF, 528KB)
The Examination Library (PDF, 244KB) has been updated.

The Examination Timetable (Rule 8 letter) has been sent to Interested Parties
Procedural decision following Preliminary Meeting

The recordings and transcripts of Open Floor Hearing 1 and Open Floor Hearing 2 have been published.
The Examination Library (PDF, 244KB) has been updated.

Joining Instructions for those who have registered to participate in Open Floor Hearing 1 and Open Floor Hearing 2, taking place on 17 May 2023 have been sent to those attending virtually.
The livestream to view Open Floor Hearing 1 and Open Floor Hearing 2 is available for those wishing to observe the event in real-time: https://cvslivestream.co.uk/mallardpass/
Please note that the Open Floor Hearings will start broadcasting once it has opened. If the livestream does not initially work, it may be resolved by refreshing the page
The Agendas for Open Floor Hearing 1 and Open Floor Hearing 2 can be viewed here: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp-content/ipc/uploads/projects/EN010127/EN010127-000433-MPSP%20-%20230510%20-%20Agenda%20for%20OFH%201%20and%202.pdf

Joining Instructions for those who have registered to participate in the Preliminary Meeting, taking place on 16 May 2023 have been sent to those attending virtually.
The livestream to view the Preliminary Meeting is available for those wishing to observe the event in real-time: https://cvslivestream.co.uk/mallardpass/
Please note that the Preliminary Meeting will start broadcasting once it has opened. If the livestream does not initially work, it may be resolved by refreshing the page
The agenda for the Preliminary Meeting (Rule 6 letter) can be found here: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp-content/ipc/uploads/projects/EN010127/EN010127-000353-Rule%206%20letter.pdf

- Preliminary Meeting takes place
- Examination begins

The submissions at Procedural Deadline A have been published.
In addition to comments on procedural matters raised in advance of the Preliminary Meeting, these submissions include the Applicant’s updated draft Development Consent Order (clean and with track changes) as requested in the Examining Authority’s Rule 6 letter and the Applicant’s Response to Relevant Representations.
The Applicant has also submitted these additional documents at Procedural Deadline A which are subject to formal acceptance by the Examining Authority. A decision on whether to formally accept these documents will be made by the Examining Authority in its Rule 8 letter issued following the Preliminary Meeting:
- 1.2 Guide to the Application (PDF, 606 KB)
- 7.12.1 – Outline Soil Management Plan (oSMP) (Clean) (PDF, 16 MB)
- 7.12.1 – Outline Soil Management Plan (oSMP) (Tracked) (PDF, 4 MB)
- 7.6.1 – Outline Construction Environmental Management Plan (oCEMP) (Clean) (PDF, 726 KB)
- 7.6.1 – Outline Construction Environmental Management Plan (oCEMP) (Tracked) (PDF, 1 MB)
- 8.1 – Statement of Commonality (PDF, 400 KB)
- 8.2 – Mallard Pass Draft SoCG with Environment Agency (PDF, 410 KB)
- 8.2 – Mallard Pass Final SoCG with National Highways (PDF, 519 KB)
- 9.4 – Supplementary Trial Trenching Report (PDF, 59 MB)

The submissions to Procedural Deadline A have been published
The Applicant has also submitted these additional documents at Procedural Deadline A which are subject to formal acceptance by the Examining Authority. A decision on whether to formally accept these documents will be made by the Examining Authority in its Rule 8 letter issued following the Preliminary Meeting:
- 1.2 Guide to the Application (PDF, 606 KB)
- 7.12.1 – Outline Soil Management Plan (oSMP) (Clean) (PDF, 16 MB)
- 7.12.1 – Outline Soil Management Plan (oSMP) (Tracked) (PDF, 4 MB)
- 7.6.1 – Outline Construction Environmental Management Plan (oCEMP) (Clean) (PDF, 726 KB)
- 7.6.1 – Outline Construction Environmental Management Plan (oCEMP) (Tracked) (PDF, 1 MB)
- 8.1 – Statement of Commonality (PDF, 400 KB)
- 8.2 – Mallard Pass Draft SoCG with Environment Agency (PDF, 410 KB)
- 8.2 – Mallard Pass Final SoCG with National Highways (PDF, 519 KB)
- 9.4 – Supplementary Trial Trenching Report (PDF, 59 MB)

The notification of Preliminary Meeting (Rule 6 letter) has been sent Read the letter
The letter also includes the draft Examination Timetable and Initial Assessment of Principal Issues.

The Rule 4 Letter (PDF, 120KB) – appointment of additional Examining Inspector.
The Examination Library (PDF, 209KB) has been updated.


The 6.2 Environmental Statement Volume 2 – Appendix 6.6 – LVIA Viewpoint Correspondence (PDF, 3 MB) and the Response to the s51 Advice (PDF, 1 MB) have been accepted at the discretion of the Examination Authority.
The Examination Library (PDF, 202 KB) will be updated shortly.


You can now register as an Interested Party Register online
If you are unable to complete a registration form online and would like to register your interest, please call the helpline on: 0303 444 5000 to request a paper form.
For further advice please see Advice Note 8.2: How to register to participate in an Examination.
You can check our step by step guide to find out more about having your say about a national infrastructure project.

The Applicant has submitted the following document:
6.2 Environmental Statement Volume 2 – Appendix 6.6 – LVIA Viewpoint Correspondence (PDF, 3 MB)
A decision on whether these will be accepted into the Examination will be made once the Examining Authority has been appointed.
These have been added to the Examination Library (PDF,193 KB)



The application documents have been published.
The documents have been published to help you become familiar with the proposal. There is no opportunity to make comments on the application at this stage.
If the application is accepted you will be able to register and express your views during the Registration and Relevant Representation stage and the subsequent Examination. Further detail on this process is provided in Advice Note 8.2.

