KEY DATES

LINK TO HAVE YOUR SAY

Tuesday 9 December

Comments on Written Representations (WRs).

Comments on the Local Impact Reports.

Any further information requested by the ExA under Rule 17 of the Infrastructure Planning (Examination Procedure) Rules 2010.

Comments on any further information/ submissions received by deadline 1 and deadline 1A.

W/c 8 and 15 December

Notices in publications in relation to change request 1 (CR1)

Opening of relevant representations (RRs) and submission of written representations (WR) in relation to CR1  

Wednesday 17 December

Publication by the ExA of: 

• ExA’s First Written Questions (ExQ1).

Friday 9 January 2026

Deadline 3

Responses to ExQ1.

The applicant’s updates – refer to annex E of the Rule 6 Letter

Updated versions of principal areas of disagreement summary statements (PADSS).

Requests by interested parties (who were not heard at OFH1 or OFH2) to be heard at any further open floor hearing (OFH).

Any further information requested by the ExA under Rule 17 of the Infrastructure Planning (Examination Procedure) Rules 2010.

Comments on any further information/ submissions received by deadline 2.

Monday 19 January 2026

Closing of RRs in relation to CR1

Deadline 3A Change request (CR1 DL3A)

For receipt by the ExA of:

WRs relating to CR1.

Summaries of any WRs over 1500 words.

w/c 26 January 2026

Dates reserved for hearings:

Issue specific hearings (ISH) 

Compulsory acquisition hearing (CAH) 

Tuesday 10 February 2026

Deadline 4

 For receipt by the ExA of:

Written post hearing submissions including written summaries of oral cases made at hearings the w/c 26 January 2026.

Any further information requested by the ExA under Rule 17 of the Infrastructure Planning (Examination Procedure) Rules 2010.

Comments on any further information/ submissions received by deadline 3.

Comments on RRs and WRs relating to the effect CR1.

 Tuesday 17 February 2026

Deadline 4A Change request (CR1 DL4A)

For receipt by the ExA of:

Requests by interested parties (in relation to CR1) to be heard at an OFH.

Requests by interested parties (in relation to CR1) to be heard at a CAH.

Suggested locations for site inspections

(Accompanied (ASI) or Unaccompanied (USI)), including justification (in relation to CR1) for consideration by the ExA 

w/c 23 February 2026

Dates reserved for hearings and/or ExA’s second written questions (ExQ2) (if required):  

•        Further ISH (if required).

•        Further CAH (if required).

•        Further OFH (if required).

•        ExQ2 (if required).

Tuesday 24 February 2026

 Deadline 4B Change request (CR1 DL4B)

For receipt by the ExA of:

Applicant’s draft itinerary for accompanied site inspection (ASI) (if required)  

Tuesday 10 March 2026

Deadline 5

Written post hearing submissions including written summaries of oral cases made at hearings the w/c 23 February 2026 (if held).

Responses to ExQ2 (if required).

The applicant’s updates – refer to annex E of the Rule 6 Letter

PADSS.

Any further information requested by the ExA under Rule 17 of the Infrastructure Planning (Examination Procedure) Rules 2010.

Comments on any further information/ submissions received by deadline 4.

Comments on the applicant’s draft itinerary for the ASI (if required).

Notification of a wish to attend the ASI (if required) on the w/c 23 or 30 March 2026

Wednesday 18 March 2026

Publication by the ExA of:

Report on the Implications for European Sites (RIES) and any associated questions (if required).

w/c 23 March 2026

and w/c 30 March 2026 

Dates reserved for hearings and/or ExA’s third written questions (ExQ3) and ASI (if required):

 • Further ISH (if required)

• Further CAH (if required)

• Further OFH (if required)

•  ExQ3 (if required)

 Monday 13 April 2026

Deadline 6

•        Written post hearing submissions including written summaries of oral cases made at hearings the w/c 23 March 2026 (if held).

•        Responses to ExQ3 (if required).

•        Comments on the RIES (if issued) and responses to any associated questions.

•        Any further information requested by the

ExA under Rule 17 of the Infrastructure Planning (Examination Procedure) Rules 2010.

•        Comments on any further information/ submissions received by deadline 5.

Friday 17 April 2026

Publication by the ExA of:

 • ExA’s commentary on, or schedule of changes to, the draft development consent order (dDCO) (if required).

Wednesday 29 April 2026

Deadline 7

 •        Summary statements from parties regarding matters that they have previously raised during the Examination and that have not been resolved to their satisfaction.

•        Final versions of PADSS.

•        Comments on the ExA’s commentary on, or schedule of changes to, the dDCO (if issued)

•        The applicant’s closing summary statement.

•        The applicant’s final updates – refer to annex E of the Rule 6 Letter.

•        Comments on the deadline 6 submissions and any other information requested by the ExA for deadline 7.

•        Any further information requested by the

ExA under Rule 17 of the Infrastructure Planning (Examination Procedure) Rules 2010.

Tuesday 5 May 2026

CONSULTATION CLOSURE DEADLINE

The ExA must complete the examination of the application within six months. 

The ExA may close the examination before the end of the six-month period  if it is satisfied that all relevant matters have been  addressed and discussed.