A303 DCO processes & responses - Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site

Planning Inspectorate short cuts:

Stonehenge Alliance short cuts:

Our case: Summary of Stonehenge Alliance case against the A303 Stonehenge DCO
Explainer: Overview of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) and DCO planning process:
Our responses to redetermination documents: Blog

TIMELINE of formal DCO processes interspersed with Stonehenge Alliance written representations and responses

The links on the timeline below take you to documents principally published on the Planning Inspectorate website library.

2024

February 1 – UK Government to submit State of Conservation report to World Heritage Centre with further information on scheme modifications

2023 – Secretary of State’s DCO Approval

September 10-25 – UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee meeting: agree to place property on List of World Heritage in Danger if road scheme proceeds, and requested State Party to submit further information of proposed modifications and State of Conservation report to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2024 for examination by World Heritage Committee
August 26 – Legal proceedings initiated on Stonehenge road scheme by Save Stonehenge World Heritage Ltd
August 4 – The A303 (Amesbury to Berwick Down) Development Consent Order 2023 came into force
July 14 – Secretary of State approves the A303 Stonehenge DCO for road widening scheme again: Decision taken at the end of the summer parliamentary session, and prior to the World Heritage Committee meeting contrary to UNESCO’s Mission request.
March 14 – Following two changes of Government the Secretary of State’s much awaited decision failed to appear in the Chancellor of Exchequer’s Spring Budget and statements on infrastructure.

2022 – Redetermination process

October 14 – Stonehenge Alliance response to UNESCO’s Advisory Mission
October 14 – All responses to UNESCO’s Advisory Mission Report
September 14 – New Transport Secretary letter inviting Interested Parties to provide comments on the Applicant’s response by 28 September 2022.
August 26 – Transport Secretary letter inviting the Applicant to provide comments on the Advisory Mission’s report by 9 September 2022. Request that no decision should be made before the WH Committee meet in 2023.
August 14 – Stonehenge Alliance response together with wider comment on published responses.
August 25 – The responses to the Secretary of State’s consultation letter of 13 July published together with UNESCO’s Advisory Mission report.
July 18 – Stonehenge Alliance responses to various deadlines and comment: 10 June /4 April
July 13 – Invitation by Transport Secretary to comment on Applicant’s replies to concerns, Deadline 3 August 2022
July 12 – Submissions by National Highways’ replies to concerns
June 20 – Transport Secretary issues letter requesting further comments from the Applicant
June 17 – Responses to consultation to National Highways’ submissions on carbon
April 29 – Invitation by Transport Secretary to comment on Applicant’s update to Section 4 on Carbon. Deadline 10 June 2022.
April 26 – Stonehenge Alliance specialists’ responses published as a single document. For individual topics see blog.
April 26 – 1,237 entries published in response to Transport Secretary’s consultation letter of 24 February 2022
April 4 – Deadline for comment on National Highways’ reapplication and justification. Members of public (unregistered Interested Parties) have responded, but their comments will only be published at the Transport Secretary’s discretion.
February 24 – Sec of State’s invitation to Interested Parties to comment on his Statement of Matters and National Highways’ responses by 4th April 2022
January 23 to February 23 – National Highways responses and further information submitted to Transport Secretary’s Statement of Matters published under Documents dated 23/01/22, 24/01/22 and 23/02/22

2021 – Legal challenge and Quashing of scheme

November 30 – Secretary of State’s Statement of Matters and invitation to the DCO Applicant to make further representations for the purposes of his re-determination of the scheme
October 27 – Chancellor’s spending review omits budget for A303 Stonehenge scheme – see media report
August 10 – Notice that the Transport Secretary will re-determine the DCO Application
July 30 – Scheme quashed: High Court judge rules against the Secretary of State’s decision to proceed with the scheme: judgment by The Hon. Mr Justice Holgate: Summary | Full

2020 – Examining Authority’s report and SoS’s Decision

November 12 – Publication of Examining Authority’s Recommendation Report (Submitted to the Transport Secretary on 2 January 2020, published by the Planning Inspectorate at the same time as the Transport Secretary’s decision)
– Appendices (See page 111, Appendix C for list of abbreviations)
November 12 – Decision by Transport Secretary (cover letter) and his Decision Letter (giving reasons for going ahead with scheme)
September 28 – Department for Transport invitation to key players for comments on responses
August 13 – Stonehenge Alliance response to consultation on Late Neolithic Pit Structures and response from Consortium of Archaeologists and the Blick Mead project team
July 17 – Decision by Transport Secretary (delayed)
July 16 – SoS requests further information and consults on Late Neolithic Pit Structures
June 25-26 – Stonehenge Alliance and the Consortium of specialist archaeologists write to Transport Secretary about implications of major new archaeological find in WHS
May 28 – Stonehenge Alliance to Transport Secretary: response to queries of 4 May 2020
May 27-28 – Stonehenge Alliance and Council for British Archaeology comment to SoS on responses from Highways England, Historic England, and Wiltshire Council
May 18 – all responses published on Infrastructure Planning website
May 16 – Stonehenge Alliance responds with comments
May 4 – Transport Secretary asks for comments and information from Highways England, Historic England and Natural England
April 29 – Transport Secretary announced Decision delayed until 17 July 2020
April 2 – Expected Decision by Secretary of State for Transport
March 12 – The Stonehenge Alliance reacts to Chancellor’s budget announcement on 11 March
January 2 – Examining Authority’s Report and Recommendation sent to Secretary of State for Transport (not published)

2019 – Examination of draft DCO

2019 Stonehenge Alliance submissions:

– Deadline 1 Submission (25 April 2019) – Suggestions for sites to include in itinerary for Accompanied Site Inspection on 21 May 2019

– Deadline 1 Submission (18 April 2019) – Highways England: Response to Stonehenge Alliance concerning missing information

– Deadline 2 Submission (3 May 2019) – Introduction to Case

– Deadline 2 Submission (3 May 2019) – Written Representation on Principal Issue 1 Alternatives Dr. Kate Fielden, BA, D.Phil. and George McDonic, MBE, BL, DIPLTP, DPA, FFB

– Deadline 2 Submission (3 May 2019) – Written Representation on Principal Issue 4 Biodiversity, Biological Environment and Ecology Dr. Kate Fielden, BA, D.Phil., with advice of Tracé Williams, MSc., BSc.

– Deadline 2 Submission (3 May 2019) – Written Representation on Principle Issue 7 Flood Risk groundwater protection Dr George Reeves, CGeol, CEnv, PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons), FGS, FIMMM

– Deadline 2 Submission (3 May 2019) – Written Representation on Principal Issue 9 Heritage and the Historic Environment Dr Kate Fielden, BA., D.Phil.

– Deadline 2 Submission (3 May 2019) – Written Representation on Principal Issue 10 Landscape and Visual Aspects of the LVIA Andy Norfolk, MSc, Dip.L.A

– Deadline 2 Submission(3 May 2019) – Written Representation on Principal Issue 11 Noise and Vibration (Tranquillity) Clive Bentley, BSc (Hons), CEnv, CSci., MCIEH, MIEnvSc. MIOA

– Deadline 2 Submission (3 May 2019) – Written Representation on Principal Issue 11 Vibration from tunnel boring Rupert Thornely-Taylor, FIOA

– Deadline 2 Submission (3 May 2019) – Written Representation on Principal Issue 13 Transport Planning and Economics Issues Dr Simon Temple, BSc, MSc, D.Phil.

– Deadline 2 Submission (3 May 2019)- Written Representation on the Cultural Heritage Value Report Alan James, MA, BSc.

– Deadline 2 Submission (3 May 2019) – Written Representation on Concerns about consultation on the Scheme Dr Kate Fielden, BA, D.Phil.

– Deadline 3 Submission (from 22 May to 14 June) – Open Floor Hearings Tom Holland, Dr Simon Temple & Dr Kate Fielden and Dr Temple, Dr Fielden and Dr George Reeve

– Deadline 3 Submission – Summary of Open Floor Hearing on Climate Change – Mike Birkin, Friends of the Earth

– Deadline 4 Submission (21 June) – Our Summary of Oral Representations made at Specific Hearings and Further comments

– For later submissions and correspondence with Examiners and Planning Inspectorate by the Alliance, please search ‘Stonehenge Alliance’ on the Planning Inspectorate’s Examination Library site

– 2019 Other mutual objectors:

Consortium of Archaeologists and the Blick Mead Project Team
Council for British Archaeology (CBA)
Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society
ICOMOS UK
Avebury Society

– Examination process

December 14 – Deadline to register as an Interested Party
October 2 – Examination closed
September 25 – Stonehenge Alliance summary of case submitted to the Planning Inspectorate
May 17 – Stonehenge Alliance to Planning Inspectorate concerning information still missing
April 17 – Stonehenge Alliance to Planning Inspectorate : concerning Hydrogeological reports, Groundwater Monitoring & Modelling reports
April 11 – Planning Inspectorate’s Examination procedure with timetable (Annex A)
April 2 – Start of Examination of Scheme: Examining Authority’s Preliminary Meeting for Interested Parties at Salisbury Racecourse
January 30 – Stonehenge Alliance to Planning Inspectorate: concerning lack of relevant information
January 30 – Stonehenge Alliance to Planning Inspectorate : concerning lack of critical information from Environment Agency
January 10 – Stonehenge Alliance relevant representation – accepted

2018 Draft DCO application submitted

December 14 – Stonehenge Alliance to Jesse Norman, Minister of Transport: concerning limited registration period
December 8 – Registration of Interested Parties and submit Relevant Representation begins
November 16 – Planning application accepted by Planning Inspectorate.
October 19 – Draft DCO Application by Highways England received by the Planning Inspectorate
2018 July 17 – August 14 Supplementary Consultation on minor alterations
2018 June 5 – Westminster debate led by Alex Burghart MP
2018 February 8 to April 23 – Statutory consultation on proposed scheme. Cost increases to £1.6bn.

2017

2017 September – Announcement of preferred route
2017 July 20 – Institute for Government: red RAG rating in report Government delivery of major infratructure – less is more
2017 March 22 – National Audit Office: Highlights construction risks in its Progress with the investment strategy
2017 January 12 to March 5 – Non-statutory consultation on route option. Cost increases to £1.4bn.

2015/2016 – Route assessment

2015-2016 – Route assessment and identification

2014

2014 – Scheme included in the Roads Investment Strategy. Budget cost £1.2bn.

2013

2013 – A303 feasibility study announced as part of the Autumn Statement

Link here for Campaign and Stonehenge Saga prior to 2007 when the tunnel scheme was cancelled

Timeline since the property’s inscription by UNESCO.

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