Our development consent order
Published: 26 July 2024
On Monday 4 March 2024, the River Thames Scheme (RTS) six-week statutory consultation came to a close. During this time, we spoke with over 2,700 people at our public exhibitions and virtual events and the consultation feedback we received will now be carefully considered by landscape architects, civil engineers, environmental scientists, water modelling experts and others working on the RTS.
The consultation activity is just one part of process required towards submitting our Development Consent Order (DCO). A DCO gives us permission to build and operate the scheme. Unlike other processes it means we would only apply to one place for almost all the different types of consent we need. This ensures that many scheme elements are reviewed and agreed to in one go, making the process simpler and quicker. A DCO also includes the legal power to compulsorily buy land for the scheme where required.
There is still a lot of work to do, to achieve the above. There is a great deal of detail required that needs to go into preparing the required documentation.
Below are some of the workstreams that we need to progress before we can apply for development consent.
Analysing the consultation feedback
We had an amazing response to our recent consultation and the team are working hard to go through all the of the feedback we received to ensure it is read and considered.
The issues and ideas raised in every consultation response are recorded and considered carefully by the project team. It's our aim to deliver the best possible scheme which will reduce flood risk to communities without delay.
With more than 2,500 responses, it's going to take some time to complete – but it's important we look at every single response.
We need to consider if any of the feedback received in consultation means we need to update the current design for the River Thames Scheme.
Ferris Meadow Lake
We are continuing our work to explore potential options for the channel around Ferris Meadow Lake. The feedback we received on this subject during consultation is important as we use this to feed into our optioneering work.
We have more work to do to fully explore all the options and consider suggestions raised at consultation.
In due course we will undertake further engagement with stakeholders and communities on this subject. This will need to be carried out before we submit an application for DCO.
Visit the Ferris Meadow Lake page for more detail on the status of this area of the scheme.
Reaching agreements with landowners and other stakeholders
Whilst our statutory consultation has now ended, engagement with stakeholders, such as the local planning authorities and environmental bodies, will continue as we work through with them any issues or concerns, they may have.
We also understand that our project will have an impact on some local landowners, and we will continue to work hard with potentially affected landowners to mitigate this impact. If you are a landowner who is affected by the scheme, visit our landowners webpage for more information.
As part of our application for Development Consent it's rightly important we show we have sought to resolve any concerns and reach agreement with key stakeholders and landowners. The engagement we will undertake will be crucial to achieving this.
River Thames Scheme milestones and dates
The below table shows major River Thames Scheme milestones and dates. These dates are our best forecast in July 2024 and are subject to change. The dates should not be taken as confirmed and should be considered advisory.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Non-Statutory Consultation | Winter 2022 (Completed) |
| Statutory Consultation | Early 2024 (Completed) |
| Submit Development Consent Order (DCO) | 2025 |
| DCO decision | 2026 |
| Construction commences | Winter 2026 |
| River Thames Scheme open | Winter 2030 |
Stages of the DCO process
Once the scheme has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate, there is a clear and fixed process and timescale for when a decision about awarding a DCO is made.
- Pre-application
- Acceptance
- Pre-examination
- Examination
- Recommendation and Decision
- Post Decision
We're currently in the pre-application stage, meaning we're doing all the work ready to make the application.
What happens in each stage of the DCO application process?
We are currently at this stage of the DCO process, which includes engaging with the public and stakeholders on plans.
Since our public consultation in 2022 we have been refining our designs. In 2024 we consulted again to get the public's views to help us shape the scheme.
Once all feedback has been reviewed, the scheme will be finalised and submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.
The Acceptance stage will begin when we submit our DCO application to the Planning Inspectorate. This includes a 28 day period for the Planning Inspectorate, on behalf of the Secretary of State, to decide whether the application meets the standards required to move forward.
This stage allows anyone to register as an Interested Party to the Planning Inspectorate. You will be able to submit a representation or present your views at a public hearing within a timeframe that will be notified by us after the application is accepted. A panel of inspectors are also appointed at this stage, who acts as the Examining Authority for the scheme and the initial meeting (called a Preliminary Meeting) will be held to discuss the examination schedule. This phase typically lasts three months.
Following the Preliminary Meeting, the Examining Authority has up to six months to carry out an examination on our DCO application. This six month process is focused on written submissions, but there will be Hearings too. During this stage, anyone who has registered as an Interested Party can submit their views on the plans.
After the Examination stage, the Examining Authority will have three months to write a recommendation report and submit this to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Secretary of State then has three months to make the decision on whether to grant or refuse the development consent order.
This is the final stage of the process. If our DCO is approved by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, there is a six week window for the decision to be legally challenged by the judicial review.
The next stage
The final scope and design of the project – which we'll ultimately prepare a development consent application for – is yet to be fully determined. It will be shaped by technical, environmental and economic factors alongside consultation feedback.
Once we make the application, parties with an interest in the scheme will also be able to give their views to the Planning Inspectorate, which will examine these views alongside the application. The Planning Inspectorate will then make a recommendation to the Secretary of State who will publish the decision.
Throughout the DCO process, all documents we submit to the Planning Inspectorate will be publicly available from the Planning Inspectorate.
Find out more about the process
Document history
Published: 26 July 2024
Updated: 26 July 2024