Press release

Drax Re-power station proposal granted development consent

On Friday, 4 October 2019, the application for the Drax Re-power generating station in North Yorkshire has been given development consent by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Drax Power Station

Development consent has been given to modify up to two of the coal-fired generating units (known as Units 5 and 6) at Drax Power Station, Selby, to become gas-powered generating plant. The proposed Project comprises up to four new combined cycle gas turbines (CCGT) (up to two for Unit 5 and up to two for Unit 6), each powering a dedicated generator of up to 600MW in capacity. The project is located at the Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire.

The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by Drax Power Ltd on the 29 May 2018 and accepted for examination on 26 June 2018. Following an examination during which the public, statutory consultees and interested parties were given the opportunity to give evidence to the Examining Authority, a recommendation was made to the Secretary of State on 4 July 2019.

The Planning Inspectorate is committed to giving local communities the opportunity of being involved in the examination of projects that may affect them. Local people, the local authority and other interested parties were able to participate in the 6 month long examination. The Examining Authority listened and gave full consideration to local views before making their recommendation.

It is the 78th Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project to be examined and decided and brings the total of energy projects to 52.

The decision, the recommendation made by the Examining Authority to the Secretary of State and the evidence considered by the Examining Authority in reaching its recommendation is publicly available on the National Infrastructure Planning website

ENDS

Journalists wanting further information should contact the Planning

Inspectorate Press Office, on: 0303 444 5004 or 0303 444 5005 or email:

Press.office@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

Notes to editors:

The Planning Inspectorate, National Infrastructure Programme of Projects details the proposals which are anticipated to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate as applications in the coming months. It can be viewed at https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/

Published 7 October 2019