Referendum On Infrastructure Project Runs Into Difficulties

One of the forthcoming applications for a nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP) under the Planning Act 2008 is for a biomass plant in Southampton, being promoted by Helius Energy. The project website is here. The promoter has carried out two rounds of pre-application consultation and is expected to make the application in the final quarter of this year.

Meanwhile the local authority, Southampton City Council, has decided to carry out a referendum on the project in the two wards affected. This is interesting because although the power for electors to cause referendums to be held was removed from the Localism Bill at a late stage, there was already a power for a local authority to...