The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) is hosting a 4-week public consultation in relation to the North South Interconnector project.
The consultation gives members of the public the opportunity to view and submit feedback on updated environmental information, which was provided to DfI by SONI in July 2019.
In January 2018, following an extensive planning process, the Department for Infrastructure granted planning approval for the North South Interconnector.
In the absence of the Stormont Executive, the project was approved by a senior civil servant. However, a legal challenge to a separate project resulted in the courts finding that major applications should only have been decided by a Minister.
Since then legislation has been passed empowering civil servants to make strategic decisions.
The ‘Further Environmental Information 2019 addendum’ document has been provided to the Department for Infrastructure as part of the planning process for the North South Interconnector.
SONI has presented a number of detailed technical environmental assessments in the addendum, dealing with issues such as ecology, the local landscape, the local community, transport and socio-economic impacts.
The report, which is now being considered by DfI, has concluded that there is no change to the environmental information previously submitted by SONI.
You can view the non-technical summary document on our website here. You can also view the full range of documents at SONI's Armagh Office on 16 Russell Street, Armagh until Friday 30th August.