PROPOSED IMMINGHAM EASTERN RO-RO TERMINAL DEVELOPMENT (APPLICATION REFERENCE TR030007)

NOTICE OF CONSULTATION ON PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE APPLICATION

PLANNING ACT 2008, INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING (APPLICATIONS: PRESCRIBED FORMS AND PROCEDURE) REGULATIONS 2009, INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING (ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT) REGULATIONS 2017

An application for an Order granting development consent has been made under section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 by ASSOCIATED BRITISH PORTS ("ABP") of 25 BEDFORD STREET, LONDON, WC2E 9ES to the Planning Inspectorate (on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport) (“the Application”). The Application was submitted on 10 February 2023 and was accepted for Examination by the Planning Inspectorate on 6 March 2023 (Application Reference: TR030007). The Examination began on 25 July 2023 and is due to close by 25 January 2024. After the Examination has closed, the Examining Authority will submit a report to the Secretary of State for Transport who will then make the decision as to whether to grant the Development Consent Order.

THE IERRT DEVELOPMENT 

The Application is for development consent to construct and operate a new three berth Roll-on/Roll-off (“Ro-Ro”) cargo facility in the Port of Immingham, North East Lincolnshire, DN40 2LZ (“the IERRT Development”). The Application submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for the IERRT Development consisted of:  

Marine works

• An approach jetty from the shore linked to two floating pontoons appropriately secured in position.
• Two separate finger piers to provide three berths thereby enabling the vessels to berth alongside with their stern ramps resting upon two floating pontoons.
• A capital dredge of the new berth pocket.
• Disposal of dredged material at sea if no beneficial alternative can be identified.
• Possible impact protection measures if required.

  Landside

• Demolition and redevelopment of a number of existing commercial buildings within the site.
• Improvement of the existing cargo storage areas, including resurfacing and provision of new pavements and associated infrastructure.
• Provision of a terminal building and a small welfare building to provide appropriate facilities for terminal operational and administration staff, lorry drivers and passengers.
• A small workshop with fuel station.
• Facilities for the UK Border Force.
• An internal bridge within the site to cross over Robinson Road and the ABP managed transit sidings.
• Related utilities and operational infrastructure.
• Creation of a second entrance lane at the Port’s East Gate.

   

• Offsite environmental enhancement.

ABP now gives notice of its intention to submit a request to the Examining Authority, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, to make certain changes to the Application which are detailed below.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT DEVELOPMENT 

The IERRT Development is an Environmental Impact Assessment development (“EIA development”), as defined by the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. An Environment Statement was submitted with the Application, which can be viewed within the Examination Library online at https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/TR030007/documents.

Details of how the proposed changes to the Application supplement or change the findings in the Environmental Statement are provided in the Proposed Changes Notification Report.

COPIES OF THE APPLICATION

The Application, including the Environmental Statement, together with the Application form and its accompanying documents, drawings, plans and maps, are available for inspection free of charge on the webpage relating to the Application on the Planning Inspectorate’s website: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/TR030007/documents. These documents will be available to view on the website for at least the duration of the Examination. 

Details of the development consent process and how to participate are set out in the Planning Inspectorate’s ‘Advice Note Eight: Overview of the nationally significant infrastructure planning process for members of the public and others’, which is available to view free of charge at: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/legislation-and-advice/advice-notes/advice-note-eight-overview-of-the-nationally-significant-infrastructure-planning-process-for-members-of-the-public-and-others.

PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE APPLICATION

ABP has identified four proposed changes that it wishes to make to the Application (“the Proposed Changes”). In summary, the Proposed Changes are as follows:

Proposed Change 1: Realignment of the approach jetty and associated works to the marine infrastructure;

Proposed Change 2: Realignment and shortening of the IERRT internal bridge and consequential works;

Proposed Change 3: Rearrangement of the UK Border Force facilities; and 

Proposed Change 4: Options for the provision of revised marine impact protection measures and related works.

In advance of submitting a request to the Examining Authority on behalf of the Secretary of State to make the Proposed Changes, ABP is undertaking a consultation on the Proposed Changes.

A consultation document has been prepared which describes the Proposed Changes and explains why the changes are being sought and whether they are anticipated to give rise to any new or different significant environmental effects, referred to as the “Proposed Changes Notification Report”, as well as a Newsletter (together referred to as the “Consultation Materials”). 

The Consultation Materials will be available to view free of charge online from 20 October 2023 at: www.abports.co.uk/immroro/consultation. 

Hard copies or electronic copies uploaded to a USB stick of the Consultation Materials can be provided upon request – by emailing immroro@abports.co.uk or calling us on Freephone 0808 169 9912. Please note there may be a reasonable copying charge for certain hard copy documents of up to £300. 

All the Consultation Materials will be available online until 23:59pm on 19 November 2023.   

RESPONDING TO THIS CONSULTATION ON PROPOSED CHANGES

This consultation will take place between Friday 20 October and Sunday 19 November 2023.

All responses must be received by us in writing before 23:59pm on 19 November 2023. Responses received after that time may not be considered.

You can submit your views on the Proposed Changes by:  

• Emailing:  immroro@abports.co.uk
• Writing to: Associated British Ports, Port of Immingham, Dock Office, Alexandra Road, Immingham Dock, Immingham, North East Lincolnshire, DN40 2LZ (Quoting Reference: Immingham Eastern Ro-Ro Terminal)  

• Calling Freephone 0808 169 9912: to request a pre-paid stamped addressed envelope be sent to you in the post (free of charge) and returning it to us. 

CONSULTATION EVENTS

ABP will be holding in-person consultation events on the Proposed Changes as follows:

Any changes to the above will be posted on the consultation website at: www.abports.co.uk/immroro/consultation.

ABP may also hold online webinar sessions during the consultation period subject to demand. In addition, a free of charge telephone surgery appointment to discuss the Proposed Changes can be arranged. If you are interested in either of these please register your interest by emailing us at: immroro@abports.co.uk or calling us on Freephone 0808 169 9912.

You can also contact us on that number if you have questions about the Consultation Materials or the consultation process for the Proposed Changes. More information about the IERRT Development can be found at: www.abports.co.uk/immroro/consultation.