Press release

Abergelli Power Project granted development consent

The application for the Abergelli Power Project in Wales has been given development consent by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Abergelli Power Project artists impression

Today, Thursday 19 September 2019, the application for the Abergelli Power Project in Wales has been given development consent by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Development consent has been granted to construct a gas-fired peaking plant and connection infrastructure with a generating capacity of up to 299 MW. It is located north of Swansea (north of M4, Junction 46), approximately 1 km south-east of Felindre, 750 m south-west of Llwyncelyn and 1.5 km north of Llangyfelach, in the City and County of Swansea.

The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by Abergelli Power Ltd on the 25 May 2018 and accepted for examination on 21 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 10 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.

The Planning Inspectorate’s Chief Executive, Sarah Richards said:

“The Planning Inspectorate has again demonstrated its ability to examine Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) within timescales laid down in the Planning Act 2008.”

“This provides developers and investors with the confidence to build and improve the infrastructure this country needs to secure future economic growth.”

The decision announced today supports the recommendation made by the Planning Inspectorate. It is the 77th Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project to be examined and decided and brings the total of energy projects to fifty one.

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.

Updates to this page

Published 19 September 2019