The DCO process
Under the Planning Act (2008), the project has been classed as a Project of National Significance by the Secretary of State and will therefore be determined by the Planning Inspectorate, through a Development Consent Order (DCO) application.
The DCO process has six stages, with enfinium intending to submit its application to the Secretary of State in 2025.
Pre-application
enfinium’s proposals for CCS at Ferrybridge are currently in the pre-application phase, which will run until its DCO application is finalised and submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.
Before submitting a DCO application, applicants are expected to carry out consultation on their proposals and seek feedback from relevant stakeholders and the local community.
The Project ran a non-statutory consultation from 16 September 2024 - 20 October 2024 to introduce people to its proposals for CCS at Ferrybridge. This will be followed by a statutory consultation on how these proposals have developed in 2025.
Acceptance
Once a DCO application is submitted, the Planning Inspectorate has 28 days to determine whether it can be accepted for examination.
Pre-examination
During this stage, which typically lasts around three months, you can register as an Interested Party with the Planning Inspectorate. This will allow you to submit a written statement or ‘Relevant Representation’ detailing your views on the Project.
During this stage, the Planning Inspectorate will also appoint an Examining Authority of inspectors who will ultimately make a recommendation to the Secretary of State.
Examination
Once an Examining Authority has been appointed, the Planning Inspectorate has a maximum of six months to complete its Examination of our application.
During this time, hearings take place at which Interested Parties are invited to speak. These hearings are publicly available to watch via livestream on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.
Recommendation
The Examining Authority then makes a recommendation to the Secretary of State within three months of the close of Examination.
Decision
The Secretary of State then has a further three months to consider this recommendation and make a decision on whether to grant or refuse development consent.
Post decision
After this decision has been published, we enter a six week period in which it can be challenged in the High Court through a process known as Judicial Review.