The Secretary of State has today granted development consent for this application. For further information please refer to the following decision documentation:

• Secretary of State’s Decision Letter (PDF, 516KB)
• Planning Inspectorate’s Notification of Decision Letter (PDF,168KB)
• Development Consent Order as made (PDF,2MB)
• Examining Authority’s Recommendation Report (PDF, 4MB)
• Habitats Regulations Assessment (PDF, 725KB)
• Regulation 31 Notice (PDF, 64KB)
• Post-Examination submissions (PDF, 2MB)

The Secretary of State has exercised their discretion to accept further late submissions from the Applicant (PDF, 152 KB) and DWF Law LLP on behalf of Severn Trent Water (PDF, 368 KB) in response to the Secretary of State’s consultation letter of 2 September 2022 (PDF, 135 KB). This is in addition to the late responses previously published from both parties dated 30 September 2022.

The Secretary of State has exercised their discretion to accept late submissions from the Applicant (PDF, 120 KB) and DWF Law LLP on behalf of Severn Trent Water (PDF, 279 KB) in response to the Secretary of State’s consultation letter of 2 September 2022 (PDF, 135 KB).

Responses to the Secretary of State’s consultation of 2 September 2022 have been published.

The Secretary of State for the Department for Transport has written to the Applicant and Severn Trent Water (PDF, 135 KB) seeking further information.

The deadline for responses is 16 September 2022.

The Deadline 9 submissions have been published.

The Examination closed at 23:59 on 16 May 2022. Notification of the completion of the Examination (PDF, 96 KB) has been issued.

If you have any questions, please contact the Case Team: [email protected].

The Examination closed at 23:59 on 16 May 2022.

The Deadline 8 submissions have been published.

The Examining Authority (ExA) has issued a Rule 17 – Request for Further Information (PDF, 115 KB) to the Applicant. The ExA requires a response to this request by Deadline 9 (16 May 2022).

The video recordings and transcripts from Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 3 (CAH3), Issue Specific Hearing 5 (ISH5) and Open Floor Hearing 2 (OFH2) have been published.

No submissions were received in respect of Deadline 7a.

The video recordings and transcripts from Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 3 (CAH3), Issue Specific Hearing 5 (ISH5) and Open Floor Hearing 2 (OFH2) will be published on the project webpage shortly.

The Action Points arising from CAH3 (PDF, 83 KB) have been published.

Instructions for those wishing to participate in Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 3 (CAH3), Issue Specific Hearing 5 (ISH5) and Open Floor Hearing 2 (OFH2) have been sent. These Hearings will take place during the same virtual event.

The Livestream of CAH3, ISH5 and OFH2 is available for those wishing to observe in real-time.

Please note that the livestream will start broadcasting LIVE once it opens at 10.00am on Friday 29 April 2022. If the Livestream does not initially work, it may be resolved by refreshing the page.

The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept an Additional Submission from Royal Mail (PDF, 752 KB).

The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept an Additional Submission from Carter Jonas LLP on behalf of Hanson Quarry Products Europe Limited (PDF, 208 KB).

The Examining Authority has issued the following letters:

• Rule 17 – Request for Further Information addressed to the Applicant, Climate Emergency Policy and Planning (CEPP), and the Joint Councils. (PDF, 102 KB)
• Rule 17 – Request for Further Information addressed to the Applicant and Severn Trent Water Ltd. (PDF, 122 KB)

The ExA requires responses to these requests by Deadline 8 (Friday 6 May 2022).

The ExA has exercised its discretion to accept an Additional Submission from Mr & Mrs de Lisle Wells (PDF, 113 KB).

The agendas for the following Hearings have been published:

• Open Floor Hearing 2 (OFH2) (PDF, 111 KB)
• Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 3 (CAH3) (PDF, 123 KB)
• Issue Specific Hearing 5 (ISH5) (PDF, 139 KB)

The Examining Authority (ExA) has exercised its discretion to accept an Additional Submission from Climate Emergency Planning and Policy (PDF, 130 KB).

The ExA has published the Report on the Implications for European Sites (RIES) (PDF, 232 KB) and the ExA’s proposed schedule of changes to the draft Development Consent Order (dDCO) (PDF, 105 KB). Any responses to these documents should be submitted at Deadline 8 (Friday 6 May 2022).

The Examining Authority (ExA) has published the Report on the Implications for European Sites (RIES) (PDF, 232 KB) and the ExA’s proposed schedule of changes to the draft Development Consent Order (dDCO) (PDF, 105 KB).

Any responses to the above documents should be submitted at Deadline 8 (Friday 6 May 2022).

The Deadline 7 submissions have been published.

The Examining Authority (ExA) has exercised its discretion to accept an Additional Submission from Bruce Fowler on behalf of Mr and Mrs D Field (PDF, 115 KB).

The ExA has published a letter notifying parties of Procedural Decisions taken following the acceptance of the Applicant’s change request (PDF, 174 KB), including revisions to the Examination Timetable and notification of further Hearings to be held on Friday 29 April 2022.

The Examining Authority has published a letter notifying parties of Procedural Decisions taken following the acceptance of the Applicant’s change request (PDF, 174 KB), including revisions to the Examination Timetable and notification of further Hearings to be held on Friday 29 April 2022.

Comments received by 3 April 2022 on the Applicant’s request to make changes to the Application have now been published on the Relevant Representations page. They can also be viewed on the updated Examination Library under references RR-111 and RR-112.

The Examination Library (PDF, 1 MB) has been updated.

Following the Examining Authority’s (ExA) decision to accept the Applicant’s request for changes to the Proposed Development for examination (PDF, 140 KB), comments are now invited on the Applicant’s proposed provisions by 23:59 on Sunday 3 April 2022.

Please note that any comments must be made on the Registration and Relevant Representation Form and must relate to the Applicant’s change request (PDF, 362 KB) only; any submissions that are not in relation to this, or are not on the prescribed form, will not be seen by the ExA and will be disregarded. Comments submitted after the deadline will also be disregarded.

The Deadline 6 submissions have been published.

Following the Examining Authority’s (ExA) decision to accept the Applicant’s request for changes to the Proposed Development for examination (PDF, 140 KB), comments are now invited on the Applicant’s proposed provisions by 23:59 on Sunday 3 April 2022.

Please note that any comments must be made on the Registration and Relevant Representation Form and must relate to the Applicant’s change request (PDF, 362 KB) only; any submissions that are not in relation to this, or are not on the prescribed form, will not be seen by the ExA and will be disregarded. Comments submitted after the deadline will also be disregarded.

The ExA’s Further Written Questions (ExQ2) (PDF, 329 KB) have been published. Responses are sought by Deadline 6 (Wednesday 30 March 2022).

Following the Examining Authority’s (ExA) decision to accept the Applicant’s request for changes to the Proposed Development for examination (PDF, 140 KB), comments are now invited on the Applicant’s proposed provisions by 23:59 on Sunday 3 April 2022.

Please note that any comments must be made on the Registration and Relevant Representation Form and must relate to the Applicant’s change request (PDF, 362 KB) only; any submissions that are not in relation to this, or are not on the prescribed form, will not be seen by the ExA and will be disregarded. Comments submitted after the deadline will also be disregarded.

The Deadline 5 submissions have been published.

Following the Examining Authority’s (ExA) decision to accept the Applicant’s request for changes to the Proposed Development for examination (PDF, 140 KB), comments are now invited on the Applicant’s proposed provisions by 23:59 on Sunday 3 April 2022.

Please note that any comments must be made on the Registration and Relevant Representation Form and must relate to the Applicant’s change request (PDF, 362 KB) only; any submissions that are not in relation to this, or are not on the prescribed form, will not be seen by the ExA and will be disregarded. Comments submitted after the deadline will also be disregarded.

The video recordings and transcripts from Issue Specific Hearing 4 have been published.

Following the Examining Authority’s (ExA) decision to accept the Applicant’s request for changes to the Proposed Development for examination (PDF, 140 KB), comments are now invited on the Applicant’s proposed provisions by 23:59 on Sunday 3 April 2022.

Please note that any comments must be made on the Registration and Relevant Representation Form and must relate to the Applicant’s change request (PDF, 362 KB) only; any submissions that are not in relation to this, or are not on the prescribed form, will not be seen by the ExA and will be disregarded. Comments submitted after the deadline will also be disregarded.

The Action Points arising from Issue Specific Hearing 4 (PDF, 468 KB) have been published.

The ExA has exercised its discretion to accept an Additional Submission from ESP Utilities Group Limited (PDF, 168 KB).

Following the Examining Authority’s (ExA) decision to accept the Applicant’s request for changes to the Proposed Development for examination (PDF, 140 KB), comments are now invited on the Applicant’s proposed provisions by 23:59 on Sunday 3 April 2022.

Please note that any comments must be made on the Registration and Relevant Representation Form and must relate to the Applicant’s change request (PDF, 362 KB) only; any submissions that are not in relation to this, or are not on the prescribed form, will not be seen by the ExA and will be disregarded. Comments submitted after the deadline will also be disregarded.

The Examining Authority’s (ExA) letter dated 31 January 2022 (PDF, 158 KB) reserved Friday 4 March 2022 for the continuation of Issue Specific Hearing 4 (ISH4) if required. This reserve date is no longer required and has been cancelled.

The notes of the ExA’s Unaccompanied Site Inspections (USI) on 28 February 2022 (USI2) (PDF, 135 KB) and 1 March 2022 (USI3) (PDF, 121 KB) have been published.

Instructions for those wishing to participate in Issue Specific Hearing 4 (ISH4) have been sent.

The Livestream of ISH4 is available for those wishing to observe in real-time.

Please note that ISH4 will start broadcasting LIVE once it opens at 10.00am on Thursday 3 March 2022. If the Livestream does not initially work, it may be resolved by refreshing the page.

The Examining Authority (ExA) has exercised its discretion to accept an Additional Submission from Hanson Quarry Products Europe Limited (PDF, 226 KB).

The ExA does not consider it necessary to hold Issue Specific Hearing 3 (ISH3) on the draft Development Consent Order or Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 2 (CAH2) on Wednesday 2 March 2022, and therefore these Hearings have been cancelled.

The agenda for Issue Specific Hearing 4 (ISH4) on Environmental Matters has been published (PDF, 136 KB).

The Examining Authority (ExA) has made a Procedural Decision to accept the Applicant’s request to make changes to the application. Copies of the documents containing further information can be found here:

• Procedural Decision to accept the Applicant’s change request (letter to the Applicant) (PDF, 106 KB);
• Procedural Decision to accept the Applicant’s change request (letter to all Interested Parties) (PDF, 140 KB); and
• The ExA’s Proposed Provision Checklist (PDF, 151 KB).

The ExA does not consider it necessary to hold Issue Specific Hearing 3 (ISH3) on the draft Development Consent Order or Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 2 (CAH2) on Wednesday 2 March 2022, and therefore these Hearings have been cancelled. Please refer to the above documents for further information.

The agenda for Issue Specific Hearing 4 (ISH4) on Environmental Matters has been published (PDF, 136 KB).

The Deadline 4 submissions have been published.

The Deadline 4 submissions include a request from the Applicant to make changes to the application (PDF, 362 KB). Please note that the publication of this request and any supplementary information referred to therein does not indicate that the proposed change has been accepted by the Examining Authority.

The Examining Authority (ExA) has issued a response to the Applicant’s notice of intention to make changes to the application (PDF, 129 KB). Please note that this letter does not indicate that the proposed change has been accepted by the ExA.

The Deadline 3 submissions have been published and include a notification of intention to make a change request from the Applicant (PDF, 7 MB). Please note that the publication of this letter does not indicate that the proposed change has been accepted by the Examining Authority.

The Examining Authority (ExA) has exercised its discretion to accept an Additional Submission from the Applicant (PDF, 120 KB) regarding site inspections.

The ExA has now issued a written Procedural Decision (PDF, 109 KB) to all Interested Parties addressing the conduct of planned site inspections.

The Examination Library (PDF, 1,008 KB) has been updated.

The Examining Authority’s letter notifying parties of Hearings to be held during the w/c 28 February 2022 (PDF, 158 KB) has been published.

The video recordings and transcripts from Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 1 (CAH1) and the Action Points arising from the Hearings held during the w/c 24 January 2022 (PDF, 543 KB) have been published.

The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept Additional Submissions from Cotswolds Conservation Board (PDF, 137 KB), Council for British Archaeology (PDF, 148 KB) and The Woodland Trust (PDF, 113 KB).

The video recordings and transcripts from Issue Specific Hearing 2 (ISH2) have been published. The video recordings and transcripts from Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 1 (CAH1), and any Action Points arising from the Hearings held during the w/c 24 January 2022, will be published on the project webpage shortly.

The Examining Authority’s letter dated 17 December 2021 (PDF, 179 KB) reserved Friday 28 January 2022 for the continuation of Issue Specific Hearing 2 (ISH2) if required. This reserve date is no longer required and has been cancelled.

The video recordings and transcripts from Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 1 (CAH1) and ISH2, and any Action Points arising from the Hearings held during the w/c 24 January 2022, will be published on the project webpage shortly.

Instructions for those wishing to participate in Issue Specific Hearing 2 (ISH2) have been sent.

The Livestream of ISH2 is available for those wishing to observe in real-time.

Please note that ISH2 will start broadcasting LIVE once it opens at 10.00am on Thursday 27 January 2022. If the Livestream does not initially work, it may be resolved by refreshing the page.

The video recordings and transcripts from Issue Specific Hearing 1 (ISH1) have now been published.

Instructions for those wishing to participate in Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 1 (CAH1) have been sent.

The Livestream of CAH1 is available for those wishing to observe in real-time.

Please note that CAH1 will start broadcasting LIVE once it opens at 10.00am on Wednesday 26 January 2022. If the Livestream does not initially work, it may be resolved by refreshing the page.

The video recordings and transcripts from Open Floor Hearing 1 (OFH1) have now been published.

The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept an Additional Submission from The Woodland Trust (PDF, 62 KB).

Instructions for those wishing to participate in Issue Specific Hearing 1 (ISH1) have been sent.

The Livestream of ISH1 is available for those wishing to observe in real-time.

Please note that ISH1 will start broadcasting LIVE once it opens at 10.00am on Tuesday 25 January 2022. If the Livestream does not initially work, it may be resolved by refreshing the page.

Instructions for those wishing to participate in Open Floor Hearing 1 (OFH1) have been sent.

The Livestream of OFH1 is available for those wishing to observe in real-time.

Please note that OFH1 will start broadcasting LIVE once it opens at 10.00am on Monday 24 January 2022. If the Livestream does not initially work, it may be resolved by refreshing the page.

The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept an Additional Submission from Natural England (PDF, 130 KB).

The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept Additional Submissions from Cellnex UK (PDF, 114 KB) and National Trust (PDF, 156 KB).

The Deadline 2 submissions have been published. This includes a late submission from Anju Ahuja (PDF, 2 KB) which the Examining Authority (ExA) has exercised its discretion to accept.

The ExA has issued a Rule 17 – Request for Further Information (PDF, 117 KB) to the Applicant, Natural England, Cotswolds Conservation Board, and Gloucestershire County Council.

The ExA requires responses to this request by Deadline 3 (2 February 2022).

The Examining Authority (ExA) has issued a Rule 17 – Request for Further Information (PDF, 117 KB) to the Applicant, Natural England, Cotswolds Conservation Board, and Gloucestershire County Council.

The ExA requires responses to this request by Deadline 3 (2 February 2022).

The agendas for the following Hearings have been published:

• Open Floor Hearing 1 (OFH1) (PDF, 159 KB)
• Issue Specific Hearing 1 (ISH1) on the draft Development Consent Order (PDF, 517 KB)
• Compulsory Acquisition Hearing 1 (CAH1) (PDF, 122 KB)
• Issue Specific Hearing 2 on Environmental Matters (PDF, 124 KB)

The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept the following late Deadline 1 submissions from Gloucestershire Ramblers:

• Written Representation (PDF, 13 MB)
• Notes on Applicant’s Submission (PDF, 122 KB)

These documents update and supersede information previously submitted by Gloucestershire Ramblers at Deadline 1.

The Examining Authority’s (ExA) letter notifying parties of Hearings to be held during the week commencing 24 January 2022 (PDF, 179 KB) has been published.

This letter includes a request for further information from the Applicant. The ExA requires responses to this request by Deadline 2 (13 January 2022).

The Deadline 1 submissions have been published.

The Examining Authority (ExA) has exercised its discretion to accept the following Deadline 1 submissions from non-Interested Parties:

• Written Representation from Amanda Naylor (PDF, 3 KB)
• Written Representation from Brimpsfield Parish Council (PDF, 104 KB)
• Written Representation (PDF, 178 KB) and Summary of Written Representation (PDF, 3 KB) from Leckhampton with Warden Hill Parish Council

The ExA has also exercised its discretion to accept a late Deadline 1 submission from Gloucestershire Ramblers (PDF, 1 MB).

The following documents have been published:

• The Examining Authority’s (ExA) Rule 8 letter (PDF, 311 KB) which, along with issuing the Examination Timetable and other procedural matters, includes a Procedural Decision to close the Preliminary Meeting
• The ExA’s Written Questions (ExQ1) (PDF, 755 KB)
• The Preliminary Meeting Note (PDF, 133 KB

The Examination Library (PDF, 730 KB) has been updated.

Preliminary Meeting Part 2, Tuesday 16 November 2021 – Update

The Examining Authority (ExA) has considered the comments and representations made at Procedural Deadline B and has decided that there are no procedural matters which need to be explored orally. As a result, in accordance with paragraph 7.5 of the Planning Inspectorate’s Advice Note 8.6 (Virtual Events), the ExA does not consider there is a need to reconvene the Preliminary Meeting (PM) and will instead formally close the PM through a written Procedural Decision sent to all Interested Parties on Tuesday 16 November 2021.

This means that a virtual meeting (PM Part 2) will no longer be held on Tuesday 16 November 2021 and the Examination will start following the written close of the PM.

The video recording and transcript from the Preliminary Meeting Part 1 have now been published.

Instructions for those wishing to participate in the Preliminary Meeting (PM) Part 1 have been sent.

The Livestream of PM Part 1 is available for those wishing to observe in real-time.

Please note that the PM will start broadcasting LIVE once it opens at 10:00am on Tuesday 2 November 2021. If the Livestream does not initially work, it may be resolved by refreshing the page.

We would remind those observing the PM that there will be an opportunity to provide any written responses to matters raised at the PM by Procedural Deadline B (Wednesday 10 November 2021).

The responses to Procedural Deadline A have now been published.

The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept Additional Submissions from the Applicant in response to the section 51 advice and section 55 checklist issued on 29 June 2021.

Submissions from Dr Stephen Hill (PDF, 90 KB) and Dr William Rimington (PDF, 6 KB) have also been accepted as Additional Submissions.

The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept Additional Submissions from various parties.

The Rule 6 letter (PDF, 351 KB) notifying of the Preliminary Meeting (PM) has been issued. This includes details of the PM, the draft Examination Timetable and other related matters.

The note of the Examining Authority’s Unaccompanied Site Inspection on 14 September 2021 (PDF, 199 KB) has been published.

The Examining Authority has exercised its discretion to accept Additional Submissions from:

• the Applicant (PDF, 731 KB)
• Tiina Tuli (PDF, 85 KB)

This application was received by the Planning Inspectorate on Tuesday 1 June 2021.

The application documents will be made available if the application is accepted for examination.

It is for the Applicant to decide whether or not application documents can be published upon submission (see government’s Planning Act 2008: guidance on the Pre-application process).