Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Economy, Transport and Environment regarding the process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and the projects that are planned within Hampshire.

The Committee received a report from the Head of Strategic Planning (Item 7 in the minute book) that informed the Committee of significant infrastructure projects in Hampshire.

It was explained that significant projects fell under five different categories: energy, waste, waste water, transport and water and the process was also summarised, which differed to regular planning applications.

Members queried the Fareham interconnector not being included as a nationally significant project as stated in paragraph 20 of the report, and it was confirmed that this was due to Daedalus converting electricity rather than generating it.

The Wheelabrator facility was felt to be the most contentious of the Hampshire projects, which was a large scale waste to energy facility that could process up to 500,000 tonnes of waste per annum.

Whilst at the moment the County Council only contributed on a technical level as a consultee, it was acknowledged that it would be beneficial for Members to have the ability to respond at a later date.

Further information could be found at  https://www.hants.gov.uk/landplanningandenvironment/strategic-planning/nationally-significant-infrastructure-projects

The Committee noted the contents of the report.