What happens next
A decision on the application for a Material Change to the Able Marine Energy Park Development Consent Order was taken on 16 July 2022 and has now been issued.
The period for legal challenge is defined in s118 of the Planning Act 2008. Further information about legal challenge can be found in the letter sent to all Interested Parties accompanying the Secretary of State’s decision and statement of reasons.
If you have any queries about the process please email the Planning Inspectorate at [email protected] or telephone the helpline on 0303 444 5000.
Timeline (36 items)

The Able Marine Energy Park Material Change 2 proposed changes have been authorised by the Secretary of State for Transport.
- Secretary of State Decision Letter (PDF, 283 KB)
- Recommendation Report (PDF, 2 MB)
- Development Consent (Amendment) Order (PDF, 514 KB)
- Habitats Regulations Assessment (PDF, 554 KB)
- Regulation 31 Notice (PDF, 103 KB)
- Notification of Decision Letter (PDF, 139 KB)


The Secretary of State will issue a decision on this application on 16 July. As this is a weekend, the decision will be published at the first opportunity on Monday 18 July.

Responses to the Secretary of State’s request for further information have been published.

The Secretary of State for the Department for Transport has issued a request for information (PDF, 97 KB) from the Applicant.
A response is due by Friday 17 June 2022.

The Examination closed at 23:59 on 16 March 2022 and the Examining Body’s notification of the completion of the Examination (130 KB) has been published


The Examining Body has issued a request for information letter (PDF, 163 KB) to the Applicant. The Deadline for responses is Wednesday 16 March 2022.

The Deadline 6 Submissions have now been published.
The Examination Library (PDF, 290 KB) has been updated

The Report on the Implications for European Sites (RIES) (PDF, 529KB) and the Examining Body’s Further Written Questions (ExQ3) (PDF, 131KB) have been published.
Responses to ExQ3 are due by Deadline 5: 1 March 2022

The responses to Deadline 4 have now been published.
The Examination Library (PDF, 261 KB) has been updated.

The Examining Body has given notice of a Procedural Decision and amendment to the Examination Timetable (PDF, 406 KB).
The Examining Body has exercised its discretion and accepted the Applicant’s Proposed Accompanied Site Inspection (ASI) Route (PDF, 9 MB) as an Additional Submission.
The Examination Library has been updated (PDF, 266 KB).

The responses to Deadline 3 have now been published.
The Examining Body has exercised its discretion and accepted a late Deadline 3 Submission from Humberside Fire & Rescue Service (PDF, 149 KB)
The Examination Library (PDF, 240 KB) has been updated

An additional question (Q9.0.8) has been added to the Examining Body’s Further Written Questions (ExQ2) (PDF, 255 KB).
Responses are due by Deadline 4: 1st February 2022.

The Examining Body’s Further Written Questions (ExQ2) (PDF, 255 KB) have been published.
Responses are due by Deadline 4: 1st February 2022

The notice of a Procedural Decision and amendment to the Examination Timetable Letter (PDF, 266 KB) issued on 20 December 2021 incorrectly refers to the Examining Body’s Second Written Questions being published on 11 January 2022 (Page 1). The correct date is 18 January 2022 as in the Annex attached to the letter.

The Examining Body has given notice of a Procedural Decision and amendment to the Examination Timetable (PDF, 168 KB).
The Examination Library has been updated (PDF, 266 KB).

The Examining Body has exercised its discretion to accept the following Additional Submission from the Applicant:
The responses to Deadline 1 have now been published.
The Examination Library (PDF, 226 KB) has been updated.

The Examining Body has published the Note of the Unaccompanied Site Inspection (PDF, 59 KB) and given notice of a Procedural Decision and amendment to the Examination Timetable (PDF, 111KB).
The Examination Library (PDF, 195 KB) has been updated.

The Examination Timetable (Regulation 30 letter) (PDF, 260 KB) has been sent to Interested Parties.
The Note of the Preliminary Meeting (PDF, 142 KB) has been published.
The Examination Library (PD, 195 KB) has been updated.

The Examining Body’s Written Questions have been published in the Examination Library. The recording of the Preliminary Meeting is also now available in the Examination Library.

The Preliminary Meeting took place on Tuesday 15 November 2021. The meeting note and recording of the event will be published here shortly. The Examining Body’s Written Questions will be published on Friday 19 November 2021. The Regulation 30 letter with the confirmed Examination Timetable will be published here on Tuesday 23 November 2021.

- Preliminary Meeting takes place
- Examination begins

The Livestream for the Preliminary Meeting is available for those wishing to observe in real time.

The notification of Preliminary Meeting (Regulation 27 and 28 Letter) has been sent
The letter also includes the draft Examination Timetable and Initial Assessment of Principal Issues.
The Examination Library (PDF, 195 KB) has been updated.

The notice of the appointment of the Examining Body has been published (PDF, 108 KB)

A letter confirming the Secretary of State’s decision for an examination of the application and appointment of the Examining Body (PDF, 165kb) has been published.


The Relevant Representations period has now closed. The Secretary of State will now consider the need for an examination of the application, which will be made in due course.


You can now register as an Interested PartyRegister 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 or email the project mailbox, as found on the project page, for advice on how to register.


