Thames Tideway Tunnel

by Thames Water

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The Secretary of State’s decision notice and statement of reasons;
If made, the Development Consent Order;
The Examining Authority’s Recommendation Report and associated appendices;
Any documents relating to material/non-material change applications;
Any correction notices; and
All section 51 advice issued in respect of an application.

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23 September 2020

Thames Tideway Tunnel

This page sets out the timetable for the examination of the application. It includes the deadlines for submissions to be made to the Planning Inspectorate and the dates of events taking place during the Examination. The Examination Timetable is also set out in an annex to the Rule 8 letter that was sent to Interested Parties at the start of the Examination.

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Event Date	Description
12 September 2013	Examination Begins
23 September 2013	Deadline for receipt by the ExA of: Submission by the Applicant of the proposed changes. Such submissions to include all consequential changes of for example: Land Plans; the Book of Reference; Statement of Reasons and environmental information Submission by Applicant of all documents relating to the Applicant’s proposed corrections and omissions to the application including all environmental information and other supporting information Statutory Parties (SP) written confirmation that they wish to be considered as an Interested Party (IP) Persons in certain categories with interests in land written request to the ExA to become an IP (using the prescribed form)39 Submission by any SP or IP of corrections and omissions in relation to a Relevant Representation or for a SP who wishes to be considered as an IP an initial submission about the application. This includes the initial submission details by IPs who advised in their Relevant Representation that additional information would be provided Any representations relating to locations to view at or near the site and in the surrounding area that IPs consider are important and relevant for the ExA to better understand representations made or to see land and interests where there is no other opportunity to gain public access. Notification of wish by IPs to make oral representations on the specific issue or issues being examined at an Issue Specific (IS) hearing, relating to the rationale for the selection of work sites and drive strategies Notification of wish to be heard at an open floor (OF) hearing by IPs and any representation about the potential location of such hearings Notification of wish to be heard at a Compulsory Acquisition (CA) hearing by Affected Persons (APs) Notification of wish by IPs to make oral representations on the specific issue or issues being examined at identified IS hearings, relating to the draft development consent order (DCO), requirements,any s106 undertaking and related LIR matters View the documents received relating to this deadline
26 September 2013	Issue by the ExA of: Procedural timetable First written questions First request for Statements of Common Ground (SoCG) Note of preliminary meeting Publication by the Planning Inspectorate of the Applicant’s proposed changes
03 October 2013	Availability of Applicant’s proposed corrections/omissions and other IP or SP submissions for public inspection at notified locations
07 October 2013	Deadline for any written submissions on whether the Applicant’s changes as submitted are substantial and whether they would amount to a different application. Any submissions should set out the reasoning for any response View the documents received relating to this deadline
15 October 2013	The ExA’s decision on whether the Applicant’s proposed changes will be accepted will be notified to Parties by publication on the Planning Inspectorate, National Infrastructure, Thames Tideway Tunnel project page of the Planning Portal website Issue of final notification by the ExA of date, time and place for: OF hearings Three IS hearings relating to the draft development consent order (DCO), requirements, any s106 undertaking and related LIR matters CA hearings and Statutory Undertaker and special category land hearings IS hearing relating to the rationale for the selection of work sites and drive strategies matters Accompanied site visit to limited access sites
29 October 2013	Site Visit (Accompanied) 1 Accompanied site visit on 29 October 2013
04 November 2013	Deadline for receipt by the ExA of: Comments on Relevant Representations (RRs) For any RRs or initial submissions that exceeded 1500 words a summary should be provided Comments on any omissions, errata or supplementary information submitted for the September deadline Written Representations (WRs) by all IPs Any summaries of WRs, for WRs that exceed 1500 words Local Impact Report (LIR) by all local authorities Responses to ExA’s first written questions SoCG requested on or before Thursday 26 September 2013 Any draft s106 agreements or other agreements or programmes Any submissions in relation to Statutory Undertakers’ land (s127 pa 2008) and extinguishment of rights, and removal of apparatus, of Statutory Undertakers etc. (s138 pa 2008) Any written confirmation required from the Crown in relation to s135 PA 2008 providing documentary confirmation that no interests are engaged and/or the Crown authority consents View the documents received relating to this deadline
11 November 2013	Issue Specific Hearing 1 Introductory Session Carnwarth Road Riverside and alternative drive strategy, followed by Barn Elms and Putney
12 November 2013	Issue Specific Hearing 2 Chambers Wharf and Alternative Drive Strategy
13 November 2013	Issue Specific Hearing 3 Deptford Church Street
14 November 2013	Issue Specific Hearing 4 King Edward Memorial Park
15 November 2013	Issue Specific Hearing 5 Other submissions on alternative sites proposed by interested parties
19 November 2013	Open Floor Hearing 1 Open Floor Hearing
20 November 2013	Open Floor Hearing 2 Open Floor Hearing
21 November 2013	Open Floor Hearing 3 Open Floor Hearing
22 November 2013	Open Floor Hearing 4 Open Floor Hearing
23 November 2013	Open Floor Hearing 5 Open Floor Hearing
26 November 2013	Deadline for receipt by the ExA of: Written summaries of the cases put orally at the hearings held on and between Monday 11 and Saturday 23 November 2013 View the documents received relating to this deadline
26 November 2013	Issue Specific Hearing 6 First hearing on the DCO requirements, any s106 undertakings and related LIR matters
27 November 2013	Issue Specific Hearing 7 Issue Specific Hearings
28 November 2013	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 1 Compulsory Acquisition Hearing
29 November 2013	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 2 Compulsory Acquisition Hearings
02 December 2013	Deadline for receipt by the ExA of: Written summaries of the cases put orally at the hearings held on and between Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 November 2013 Comments on WRs and responses to comments on RRs Comments on LIRs Comments on responses to first written questions and initial requested and first requested SoCG Comments on any submissions in relation to Statutory Undertakers’ land (s127 pa 2008) and extinguishment of rights, and removal of apparatus of Statutory Undertakers etc. (s138 pa 2008) View the documents received relating to this deadline
03 December 2013	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 3 Compulsory Acquisition Hearing
04 December 2013	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 4 Compulsory Acquistion Hearing
05 December 2013	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 5 Compulsory Acquisition Hearing
06 December 2013	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 6 Compulsory Acquisition Hearings
10 December 2013	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 7 Compulsory Acquisition Hearing
11 December 2013	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 8 Compusory Acquisition Hearings
12 December 2013	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 9 Compulsory Acquisition Hearing
13 December 2013	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 10 Compulsory Acquisition Hearings
17 December 2013	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 11 Compulsory Acquisition Hearings
18 December 2013	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 12 Compulsory Acquisition Hearings
19 December 2013	Issue by the ExA of: Second written questions Second requested SoCG Issue of final notification by the ExA of date, time and place for: The accompanied site visit In the event that the ExA decides during the progress of the examination that they are needed, any other: OF hearings IS hearings CA hearings and Statutory Undertaker and special category land hearings View the documents received relating to this deadline
19 December 2013	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 13 Compulsory Acquisition Hearings
20 December 2013	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 14 Compulsory Acquisition Hearings
23 December 2013	Deadline for receipt by the ExA of: Written summaries of the cases put orally at the hearings held on and between Thursday 28 November and Friday 20 December 2013
13 January 2014	Deadline for receipt by the ExA of: Responses to ExA’s second written questions Second requested SoCG Any draft s106 agreements or other agreements or programmes View the documents received relating to this deadline
14 January 2014	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 15 Compulsory Acquisition Hearings
15 January 2014	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 16 Compulsory Acquisition Hearing
16 January 2014	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 17 Compulsory Acquisition Hearing
17 January 2014	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 18 Compulsory Acquistion Hearing, Glaziers Hall
20 January 2014	Deadline for receipt by the ExA of: Any written summaries of the cases put orally at the hearings held on and between Tuesday 14 and Friday 17 January 2014 View the documents received relating to this deadline
20 January 2014	Issue Specific Hearing 8 Second hearing on the DCO requirements, any s106 undertakings and related LIR matters
21 January 2014	Publication by the ExA of any: Report on the Implications for European Sites (RIES) for consultation View the documents received relating to this deadline
21 January 2014	Issue Specific Hearing 9 Issue Specific Hearing
22 January 2014	Issue Specific Hearing 10 Issue specific hearing on site selection and drive strategy
23 January 2014	Issue Specific Hearing 11 Issue Specific Hearing on site selection and drive strategy
24 January 2014	Issue Specific Hearing 12 Issue Specific Hearing on Traffic and Transport
27 January 2014	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 19 Compulsory Acquisition Hearing
28 January 2014	Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 20 Compulsory Acquistion Hearing
29 January 2014	Open Floor Hearing 6 Open Floor Hearing
29 January 2014	Site Visit (Accompanied) 2 Accompanied site visit on the 29 - 31 January
30 January 2014	Open Floor Hearing 7 Open Floor Hearing
03 February 2014	Deadline for receipt by the ExA of: Comments on responses to second written questions and second requested SoCG Written summaries of the cases put orally at any hearings held on and between Monday 20 and Tuesday 28 January 2014 View the documents received relating to this deadline
03 February 2014	Open Floor Hearing 8 Open Floor Hearing
04 February 2014	Issue Specific Hearing 13 Issue Specific Hearing on Noise and Vibration
05 February 2014	Open Floor Hearing 10 Open Floor Hearing
05 February 2014	Open Floor Hearing 9 Open Floor Hearing
06 February 2014	Issue Specific Hearing 14 Third hearing on the DCO requirements, any s106 undertaking and related LIR matters
12 February 2014	Deadline for receipt by the ExA of: Written summaries of the cases put orally at any hearings held on and between Monday 3 and Friday 7 February 2014 Any outstanding SoCG Completed s106 and any other agreements or programmes to be taken into account by the ExA and Secretary of State Any final written confirmation required from the Crown in relation to s135 PA 2008 providing documentary confirmation that no interests are engaged and/or the Crown authority consents Updated draft DCO Consultation response to any RIES published by the ExA. View the documents received relating to this deadline
20 February 2014	Publication by the ExA of: Any outstanding submitted SoCG Completed s106 and any other agreements or programmes Updated draft DCO in the final form that the Applicant wishes it to be made Responses to any RIES consultation. Issue by the ExA of: Any request for additional information by the ExA Request for comments on the published documentation
20 February 2014	Issue Specific Hearing 15 Resumption of adjourned IS hearing noise and vibration
21 February 2014	Issue Specific Hearing 16 Resumption of adjourned third IS hearing on the draft DCO and related matters
27 February 2014	Site Visit (Accompanied) 3 Accompanied site visit to St Paul's Church Deptford (rescheduled as the church and grounds were being used during the time of the previous accompanied site visit to Deptford)
03 March 2014	Deadline for receipt by the ExA of: Comments on any outstanding submitted SoCG Comments on any submitted completed s106 and any other agreements to be taken into account by the ExA and Secretary of State Comments on any updated draft DCO Comments on any responses to RIES consultation Any final written submissions by any IP or SP View the documents received relating to this deadline
11 March 2014	All final written responses from the Applicant, any Interested Party, Affected Person or Statutory Party View the documents received relating to this deadline
12 March 2014	The ExA is under a duty to complete the examination of the application by the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the last day of the preliminary meeting
12 March 2014	Examination closed

Examination Stage – FAQs

What is the Examination?
- An Examining Authority examines the key issues arising from an application for a Development Consent Order. The Examining Authority is a single Inspector or panel of up to five Inspectors, appointed by the Secretary of State.
- The Examining Authority considers representations made in writing by the Applicant and other Interested Parties, and will generally ask written questions in order to clarify points raised and to obtain further evidence. In some circumstances hearings may be held at which the Applicant and other Interested parties may speak. Once the Examination has ended, the Examining Authority writes a report setting out its conclusions and recommendations in respect of the application. The Recommendation Report is then sent to the relevant Secretary of State. It is the relevant Secretary of State who then takes the decision about whether or not to grant development consent.
How is the Examination conducted?
- The examination of an application begins on the last day of the Preliminary Meeting and has to be completed within six months. The Examination is a principally written process, based upon the Relevant Representations and Written Representations submitted by Interested Parties, and the written responses to questions asked by the Examining Authority.
- As written submissions are the principal means of giving evidence to an Examining Authority, it is essential that you make any points that you wish to make in writing before the deadlines set by the Examining Authority in the Examination Timetable.
- It is also important to understand that what you say at any hearings that are held should be based on a representation you have previously made in writing.
How can Interested Parties provide more detailed Written Representations?
- Everyone who has registered as an Interested Party by making a Relevant Representation in relation to an application is given the opportunity to provide a more detailed Written Representation. Written Representations should be supported by relevant evidence and be provided by the deadline set out in the Examination Timetable. This can be done by emailing the project email address which is available on the project page on the National Infrastructure Planning website. You can also post your Written Representations to: National Infrastructure Planning, Temple Quay House, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN.
- Please mark your submission clearly with the name of the application your Written Representation relates to and your unique reference number, which will have been provided to you in the letter notifying you of the Preliminary Meeting. If you no longer have this letter, please contact our Helpdesk on 0303 444 5000 before submitting your representation.
- Please ensure that you post or email your Written Representation in good time for us to receive it by the specified deadline in the Examination Timetable. Please remember that the purpose of Written Representations is to provide the Examining Authority with submissions (and supporting evidence) regarding issues which are important and relevant to the consideration of the application. You may provide as much or as little detail as you wish in your Written Representation, but a representation is more likely to carry weight with the Examining Authority if it is specific and supported by evidence.
- You can also comment on the Written Representations made by other Interested Parties within the timescale set out in the Examination Timetable. You can do this by post or email. In either case you should make sure that you include: (i) the name of the application to which the representation relates; (ii) your unique reference number; and (iii) the reference number for the Written Representation you are commenting on. The Planning Inspectorate will give each Written Representation received (and all other Examination Documents) a unique reference number. These reference numbers are provided in an Examination Library which is produced for every application and made available under the Documents tab on the relevant project webpage.
- We are required by law to make copies of representations (and comments on representations) available for public inspection. This is achieved by publishing all representations and comments to our website. If you submit a representation or comment, details published on our website will be restricted to your name and the text/ graphical content of your representation. We will remove any personal information about third parties if we think they have not given their consent to including their personal information in the representation. Please read our Privacy Notice which explains how we will store and use your data.
- Anything you have already said in your earlier Relevant Representation, made at the point of registration with the Planning Inspectorate, will be read by the Examining Authority. Therefore, there is no need to produce a further Written Representation during the Examination if you consider that your earlier Relevant Representation included all the detail you wish to provide.
- Please note that the Examining Authority may disregard representations which it considers are vexatious or frivolous, or those which deal with the merits of matters of national policy contained in National Policy Statements (NPSs). Designated NPSs have already been the subject of consultation and parliamentary approval and it is not the role of the Examination to debate the merits of national policy.
Can I provide a Written Representation even if I did not submit a valid Relevant Representation?
- You may write to the Planning Inspectorate, but if you have not registered as an Interested Party by making a Relevant Representation there is no guarantee that your comments will be taken into account. Whilst the Examining Authority does have discretion to accept Written Representations from people who have not submitted a valid Relevant Representation, this should not be relied upon because people who are not Interested Parties have no legal entitlement to participate.
- If you have not registered as an Interested Party, you can also consider grouping together with an individual or organisation which has already registered and become an Interested Party, where they have similar views to your own, so that they can express your views on your behalf.
- If you choose to do this, you may also wish to ask this individual or organisation to keep you informed regarding the progress of the application as the Examining Authority only writes directly to Interested Parties in this respect.
What are the different types of hearings?
- Issue Specific Hearings: These hearings are held only if the Examining Authority considers they are necessary to ensure adequate examination of an issue or that they are necessary for an Interested Party to have a fair chance to put forward their case. At an Issue Specific Hearing, any Interested Party can make representations about the specific issue being considered.
- Open Floor Hearings: These can be requested by anyone who has registered as an Interested Party by making a Relevant Representation, or by other Interested Parties (ie persons with a legal interest in affected land and statutory bodies). Requests must be made by the deadline which is set by the Examining Authority in the Examination Timetable. At the hearing, anyone who is an Interested Party can give oral evidence based on their Relevant Representation or Written Representation.
- Compulsory Acquisition Hearings: These take place at the request of anyone who has a legal interest in land affected by the Proposed Development. Only these ‘Affected Persons’ and the Applicant have the right to request and be heard at a Compulsory Acquisition Hearing.
- At any hearings, the Examining Authority will manage the proceedings and may set a time limit for contributions to ensure fairness to all participants.
Who can attend hearings?
- Anyone who is an Interested Party in relation to an application will be informed in writing by the Planning Inspectorate of the times, dates, and locations of hearings. The details are also published on the relevant project page on the National Infrastructure Planning website.
- Meetings are held in public but to ensure that we can plan for this properly we ask that everyone who wants to attend a particular hearing tells us in advance by contacting the Case Team for the project. If the venue has limited capacity, the Planning Inspectorate may need to offer Interested Parties a seat ahead of other members of the general public.
Can I speak at any hearings?
- Any Interested Party may speak at an Open Floor Hearing or Issue Specific Hearing, subject to the Examining Authority’s control over the conduct of the hearing. Any party wishing to speak who has not previously advised the Planning Inspectorate in writing of their wish to do so should inform a member of Inspectorate’s staff as soon as they arrive at the hearing. The Examining Authority will confirm whether or not this request can be granted at the beginning of the hearing or as relevant matters are explored.
- Only the Applicant and ‘Affected Persons’ (persons with a legal interest in land affected by the Proposed Development) are entitled to make oral representations at a Compulsory Acquisition Hearing.
What is the Local Impact Report?
- Local Impact Reports (LIR) are reports produced by local authorities within which a Proposed Development is located; or by any local authority that shares a boundary with a host local authority. The Examining Authority must have regard to the LIR(s) when making its recommendation to the relevant Secretary of State, and the Secretary of State must have regard to the LIR(s) in taking its decision about the application.
- Joint LIRs can be produced by two or more local authorities, for example where there are both county and district councils for the area affected by a Proposed Development. LIRs sets out what the local authority(ies) consider to be the impact of a Proposed Development on their local area(s). The Examining Authority will include a deadline for receiving the LIR in the Examination Timetable.
How can I comment on the local Impact Report?
- Once an LIR is received, it will be published on the relevant project page on the National Infrastructure Planning website. Interested Parties can comment on the LIR and the deadline for this will be published in the Examination Timetable. Once the deadline has passed, all comments made on the LIR by the deadline will be published on the relevant project page on the National Infrastructure Planning website.

Advice Note 8.5 provides more information about the Examination