C1C2PART 6Assessment of plans and projects
Pt. 6 power to disapply or modify conferred (26.12.2023) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), ss. 293(4)(5), 334(3)(j) (with s. 293(6))
CHAPTER 2Planning
Development consent under Planning Act 2008
Grant of development consent84
1
The assessment provisions apply in relation to the making of an order granting development consent under the Planning Act 2008 M1.
2
Where those provisions apply, the competent authority may, if it considers that any adverse effects of the plan or project on the integrity of a European site or a European offshore marine site would be avoided if the order granting development consent included requirements under section 120 of the Planning Act 2008 (what may be included in order granting development consent) M2, make an order subject to those requirements.
Development consent: review85
1
The review provisions apply to any order granting development consent under the Planning Act 2008 unless—
a
the development to which it related has been completed before the site becomes a European site or a European offshore marine site;
b
it included a requirement as to the time within which the development to which it related was to be begun and that time has expired without the development having been begun; or
c
the development consent was granted for a limited period and that period has expired.
2
In any such review of an order granting development consent, the competent authority must—
a
consider whether any adverse effects could be overcome by imposing requirements under paragraph 5(4)(c), (d) or (e) of Schedule 6 to the Planning Act 2008 (changes to, and revocation of, orders granting development consent); and
b
if it considers that those effects could be so overcome, impose those requirements by making such an order under paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 6 to that Act M3 as may be required.
F1Assumptions to be made about nutrient pollution standards: general85A
1
Paragraph (2) applies where—
a
a competent authority makes a relevant decision,
b
the potential development includes development in England,
c
the competent authority is required to make a relevant assessment before the decision is made,
d
waste water from any potential development would be dealt with by a plant in England that, at the time of the decision, is—
i
a nitrogen significant plant, or
ii
a phosphorus significant plant, and
e
the decision is made—
i
where the plant is a non-catchment permitting area plant, before the upgrade date, or
ii
where the plant is a catchment permitting area plant, before the applicable date.
2
In making the relevant assessment, the competent authority must assume—
a
b
c
3
Paragraph (2)—
a
is subject to regulation 85C (direction that assumptions are not to apply), and
b
does not prevent the competent authority, in making a relevant assessment, from having regard to outperformance, or expected outperformance, by a plant that is a non-catchment permitting area plant.
4
In paragraph (1) “relevant decision” means—
a
where any of the following provides that the assessment provisions apply in relation to doing a thing, the decision whether or not to do it—
i
regulation 70 (grant of planning permission),
ii
regulation 79 (special development orders),
iii
regulation 80 (local development orders),
iv
regulation 81 (neighbourhood development orders),
v
regulation 82 (simplified planning zones), or
vi
regulation 83 (enterprise zones), or
b
where any of the following provides that the review provisions apply in relation to a matter, a decision under regulation 65(1)(b) on a review of the matter—
i
regulation 71 (planning permission: duty to review),
ii
regulation 79 (special development orders),
iii
regulation 80 (local development orders),
iv
regulation 81 (neighbourhood development orders),
v
regulation 82 (simplified planning zones), or
vi
regulation 83 (enterprise zones);
but this does not apply to a matter mentioned in regulation 71(4) (any review of which would be conducted in accordance with another Chapter).
5
In paragraph (1) “potential development”, in relation to a relevant decision, means development—
a
that could be carried out by virtue of the planning permission, development order or scheme to which the decision relates, or
b
to which the decision otherwise relates.
6
In this regulation “relevant assessment” means—
a
where the assessment provisions apply and an appropriate assessment of the implications of the plan or project for a site is required by regulation 63(1), that assessment;
b
where the review provisions apply and an appropriate assessment is required by regulation 65(2), that assessment.
Assumptions to be made about nutrient pollution standards: general development orders85B
1
This regulation applies where—
a
a local planning authority (within the meaning given by regulation 78(1)) makes a decision on an application under regulation 77 (general development orders: approval of local planning authority) for approval as mentioned in regulation 75 relating to proposed development in England,
b
the authority is required by regulation 77(6) to make an appropriate assessment of the implications of the proposed development,
c
any waste water from the proposed development would be dealt with by a plant in England that, at the time of the decision, is—
i
a nitrogen significant plant, or
ii
a phosphorus significant plant, and
d
the decision is made—
i
where the plant is a non-catchment permitting area plant, before the upgrade date, or
ii
where the plant is a catchment permitting area plant, before the applicable date.
2
In making the relevant assessment the local planning authority must assume—
a
b
c
3
Paragraph (2)—
a
is subject to regulation 85C (direction that assumptions are not to apply), and
b
does not prevent the local planning authority, in making a relevant assessment, from having regard to any outperformance, or expected outperformance, by a plant that is a non-catchment permitting area plant.
Direction that assumptions are not to apply85C
1
2
A direction under this regulation may be made in relation to a plant and a standard only if the Secretary of State is satisfied—
a
where the plant is a non-catchment permitting area plant, that the plant will not be able to meet the standard by the upgrade date;
b
where the plant is a catchment permitting area plant—
i
that the plant will not be able to meet the standard by the applicable date, or
ii
that the first effect described in paragraph (4) will, on the applicable date, be more significant than the second effect described in that paragraph.
3
The Secretary of State may revoke a direction under this regulation if satisfied—
a
where the plant is a non-catchment permitting area plant, that the plant will meet the standard by the upgrade date;
b
where the plant is a catchment permitting area plant—
i
that the plant will meet the standard by the applicable date, or
ii
that the first effect described in paragraph (4) will, on the applicable date, be the same or less significant than the second effect described in that paragraph.
4
a
the “first effect” is the overall effect on the habitats site associated with the catchment permitting area of nutrients in treated effluent discharged by all plants that discharge into the area;
b
the “second effect” is the overall effect on the site of nutrients in treated effluent that would be discharged by all plants that discharge into the area if—
i
the upgrade date that applied to nutrient significant plants that discharge into the area was the same as the applicable date,
ii
the standard concentration (of nutrients) applied to those nutrient significant plants, and
iii
those nutrient significant plants were (on that basis) meeting the nutrient pollution standard on the applicable date.
5
In deciding whether to make a direction under this regulation in relation to a plant and a standard, the Secretary of State may, in particular, have regard—
a
where the plant is a non-catchment permitting area plant, to when the plant can be expected to meet the standard;
b
where the plant is a catchment permitting area plant, to when—
i
the plant can be expected to meet the standard, and
6
Before making or revoking a direction under this regulation, the Secretary of State must consult—
a
the Environment Agency,
b
Natural England,
c
the Water Services Regulation Authority,
d
any local planning authority who it appears to the Secretary of State would be affected by the direction or revocation,
e
the sewerage undertaker whose sewerage system includes the plant, and
f
any other persons that the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
7
A direction or revocation under this regulation—
a
is to be made in writing, and
b
takes effect—
i
on the day specified in the direction or revocation, or
ii
if none is specified, on the day on which it is made.
8
As soon as practicable after making or revoking a direction under this regulation, the Secretary of State must—
a
notify—
i
the Environment Agency,
ii
Natural England,
iii
every local planning authority who appears to the Secretary of State to be affected by the direction or revocation, and
iv
any other persons that the Secretary of State considers appropriate, and
b
publish the direction or revocation.
Regulations 85A to 85C: interpretation85D
1
In regulations 85A to 85C and this regulation, the following terms have the meanings given by section 96L of the Water Industry Act 1991—
“catchment permitting area”;
“environmental permit”;
“habitats site”;
“nitrogen significant plant”;
“nitrogen nutrient pollution standard”;
“nutrient pollution standard”;
“nutrient significant plant”;
“phosphorus significant plant”;
“phosphorus nutrient pollution standard”;
“plant”;
“sensitive catchment area”;
“sewerage system”, in relation to a sewerage undertaker;
“standard concentration”;
“treated effluent”;
“upgrade date”.
2
In regulations 85A to 85C and this regulation—
“catchment permitting area plant” means a nutrient significant plant that discharges (or will discharge) treated effluent into a catchment permitting area;
“non-catchment permitting area plant” means a nutrient significant plant that discharges (or will discharge) treated effluent into a sensitive catchment area other than a catchment permitting area.
3
For the purposes of regulations 85A and 85B, “outperformance” by a plant, which is a non-catchment permitting area plant and in relation to a nutrient pollution standard, occurs where—
a
the plant meets the standard before the upgrade date, or
b
the total nitrogen concentration (in the case of a nitrogen significant plant), or total phosphorus concentration (in the case of a phosphorus significant plant), in treated effluent that it discharges is less than the concentration specified in section 96F(1)(a)(i) or (2)(a)(i), under section 96C(4)(e) or 96D(5) or by virtue of regulations made under section 96D(11) (as the case may be) of the Water Industry Act 1991 that applies to the plant.
4
For the purposes of regulations 85A and 85B, the “applicable date”, in relation to a catchment permitting area, is to be determined in accordance with section 96G(6)(a) of the Water Industry Act 1991.
5
a
a habitats site is “associated” with a catchment permitting area if water released into the area would drain into the site;
b
“nutrients”—
i
in relation to an area designated under section 96C(1) of the Water Industry Act 1991, means nutrients comprising nitrogen or compounds of nitrogen;
ii
in relation to an area designated under section 96C(2) of that Act, means nutrients comprising phosphorus or compounds of phosphorus.
Pt. 6: power to amend conferred (24.1.2022) by Environment Act 2021 (c. 30), ss. 113, 147(3) (with s. 144); S.I. 2022/48, reg. 2(p)