Declares that the planned AQUIND Interconnector Project should not be allowed to be implemented due to the damage it would cause to the local community without clear benefits, further that the implementation could impact the wider environment; further that ongoing concerns remain surrounding the project company and their Directors.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government not to approve the AQUIND Interconnector Project.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Stephen Morgan, Official Report, 14 September 2021; Vol. 700, c. 948.]
[P002686]
Observations by The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Kwasi Kwarteng):
The petition submitted by the hon. Member for Portsmouth South (Stephen Morgan) on 14 September 2021 will be taken into consideration when taking the decision on whether to grant development consent for the proposed AQUIND Interconnector.
The benefits and impacts associated with the proposed AQUIND Interconnector were examined and assessed by the planning inspectorate. During that examination, interested parties were able to make written representations and there were two open floor hearings as well as issue specific hearings on matters including traffic, air quality and the environment.
In taking my decision, I will carefully consider all matters relevant to planning, including representations received following the close of the examination period.
On 21 October 2021, I made a statement to Parliament, advising that further work is necessary to consider this application in detail, including whether further information is required. I therefore extended the statutory deadline by three months, from 21 October 2021 to 21 January 2022.
Once the decision is taken, the decision letter setting out the reasons for my decision will be published alongside the examining authority's recommendation report on the planning inspectorate's website: