An Environmental Statement Addendum, which includes updated information has been voluntarily prepared and provided to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Strategic Planning Division to enable them to fully consider arc21’s planning application (ref. T/2014/0114/F) for a residual waste treatment project at Hightown Quarry, near Mallusk.
DfI Strategic Planning Division granted planning permission for the proposed development on 13 September 2017 following a clear recommendation to approve from a Planning Appeals Commission hearing, subject to certain conditions. That decision was later quashed following the outcome of the Buick judicial review which questioned the legal basis for senior civil servants to make such a decision in the absence of a Minister, due to the ongoing absence of a local NI Executive or Assembly.
Following the introduction of The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Act 2018 and associated guidance on decision-making for Northern Ireland Department’s published by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the merits of the planning application itself and the PAC recommendation to approve remain to be redetermined by the DfI Strategic Planning Division.
Given the time lapse since the original ES submission in March 2014, subsequent ES Addendum in September 2014 and Further Environmental Information (FEI) submitted as part of the Statement of Case (August 2016) in advance of the PAC hearing, this ES Addendum has reviewed and refreshed the necessary EIA baseline surveys and methodologies utilised as part of the assessments undertaken. This has been done voluntarily to ensure any future decision taken on the application is robust and based on the latest available information.
A copy of the new information is available in the DOWNLOADS SECTION of the Becon website WWW.BECON.CO.UK and through the normal planning portal. A copy is also available for public inspection at Glengormley Library, 40 Carnmoney Road. Newtownabbey, BT36 6HP.