Jul 16, 2014

Welcome to our summary of the recent news in national infrastructure planning!

Category: General

Posted by: Jack

£2bn funding agreed for English enterprise partnerships

 The Government has confirmed details of £2bn of funding to be provided to local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) across England for infrastructure and housing development under the Local Growth Deals scheme.

England’s 39 LEPs, partnerships between local authorities and businesses, have decided on priorities for investment in their areas and have each agreed deals with the Government to receive a share of the funding towards specific projects in 2015/16.

Additional funding has been confirmed in some areas towards long-term projects starting in 2016 and beyond.

Ministers expect the investment to be matched by twice as much funding from local sources and to result in work on “more than 150 roads, 150 housing developments and 20 stations”.

Planning Portal, July 10, 2014 -http://portaldirector.wordpress.com/2014/07/10/2bn-funding-agreed-for-english-enterprise-partnerships/

 

National Infrastructure Planning Projects Update

 South Hook Combined Heat and Power Station – The examination has closed. There will now be a period of three months for the Examining Authority to consider and make a recommendation to the Secretary of State. The notification of completion of the Examining Authority’s examination has been published. The deadline for the Planning Inspectorate to submit recommendation is July 27, 2014 - http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/wales/south-hook-combined-heat-power-station/

Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm - The Examining Authority issued its recommendation to the Secretary of State on June 12, 2014. A decision will be published within three months. The deadline for the Secretary of State to make decision is September 12, 2014 - http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/wales/clocaenog-forest-wind-farm/

 

Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay – the examination timetable (Rule 8 Letter) has been sent to all interested parties (June 30, 2014). The Deadline for close of examination is December 10, 2014 - http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/wales/tidal-lagoon-swansea-bay/

 

Abergelli Power – An application is expected to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for a gas-fired peaking plant and connection infrastructure with a capacity of up to 299MW located north of Swansea in the City and County of Swansea in Q1, 2015 - http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/wales/abergelli-power/

 

Brechfa Forest Electricity Connection – An application is expected to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in Q4 2014 for a twin wooden pole 132kV overhead line connecting the proposed wind farms at Brechfa Forest West, Brecha Forest East and Bryn Llywelyn to the electricity nextwork - http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/wales/brechfa-forest-electricity-connection/

 

Dyfnant Forest Wind Farm – An application is expected to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate 2014 for a wind farm 80-120 MW output - http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/wales/dyfnant-forest-wind-farm/

 

Internal Power Generation Enhancement for Port Talbot Steelworks – An application is expected to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate Q3 2014 - http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/wales/internal-power-generation-enhancement-for-port-talbot-steelworks/

 

Mid-Wales Electricity Connection (N Grid) - An application for the construction of a new 400kV electricity connection between Shropshire and Powys is expected to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in 2015 - http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/wales/mid-wales-electricity-connection-n-grid/

 

Mynydd Lluest y Graig Wind Farm – An application for an onshore wind farm with a maximum installed capacity of 122.5 MW is expected to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate Q2 2016 – http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/wales/mynydd-lluest-y-graig-wind-farm/

 

National Infrastructure Portal, July 11, 2014 - http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/

 

Labour makes push to convince business leaders on infrastructure plan

Ed Miliband has vowed to set up an independent National Infrastructure Commission to spearhead projects if Labour returns to power with the aim of ending a culture of "chronic short-termism" which Ed Miliband believes has left the UK lagging behind in areas like power generation, communications and transport links.

 

In a speech on Thursdaym July 3, Miliband called for cross-party consensus on a system of long-term infrastructure planning and decision-making to ensure that Britain is equipped for success and businesses are able to plan for the future.

The Guardian, July 3, 2014 - http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jul/03/labour-ed-miliband-national-infrastructure-commission

National Infrastructure Plan: finance update

As part of its long-term economic plan, the government is committed to delivering the infrastructure that the UK needs to compete in the global race. In December 2013, the Chief

Secretary to the Treasury launched an updated National Infrastructure Plan (NIP 2013), which outlines the government’s strategy for meeting the UK’s infrastructure needs to 2020 and beyond, providing a cross-cutting and strategic approach to infrastructure planning, prioritisation, funding, financing and delivery.

 

It also sets out the most robust, forward-looking infrastructure pipeline to date, representing over £375 billion of public and private investment.

 

NIP 2013 provides an overview of how projects are financed in each of the key economic infrastructure sectors – transport, water, flood defences, energy, communications, waste and science and innovation.

 

HM Treasury, March 2014 -https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/293688/PU1656_Infrastructure_Finance_Update.pdf