The Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) is urging communities in England and Wales to have their say as the details of further proposed projects were added to its programme.

The IPC's Programme of Projects highlights 17 project proposals the IPC expects to receive after 1 March 2010 when it starts to receive development consent applications from promoters. Six major wind farms and four new nuclear power stations are included on the list, as well as two waste combustion plants, two highway schemes, a biomass power plant and two national grid connection projects.

This week has seen four new projects in:

• Stewartby, Bedfordshire (waste combustion plant proposed by Covanta)
• Merthyr Tydfil (waste combustion plant proposed by Covanta)
• Clocaenog, Denbighshire (RWE N Power Renewables proposition to build a windfarm)
• Knutsford, Cheshire, (alterations to the A556 proposed by the Highways Agency)

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He continued: "The new process for deciding nationally significant infrastructure projects provides three stages at which the public can have their say, including the Government’s policy consultations, the promoter's consultation, and to the IPC by written representation and at its open floor hearings."

Promoters must carry out extensive consultation with local communities prior to submitting their applications to the IPC. For many of the proposals included in the IPC's Programme of Projects, the promoter's consultation processes are already well underway.

People will also have the opportunity to have their views heard through written representations and at open floor hearings chaired by IPC Commissioners.

This will happen only after a project application has been received by the IPC, and has been accepted for consideration. However, the IPC will not accept an application if it considers that the promoter's consultation has been inadequate.

(CD/GK)