The A303 (Amesbury to Berwick Down) Development Consent Order 2023

An application has been made to the Secretary of State, under section 37 of the Planning Act 20081 (“the 2008 Act”) in accordance with the Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 20092 for an Order granting development consent.

The application concerns development which traverses the Stonehenge part of the Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site, inscribed on the list of World Heritage in 1986 (reference number 373) by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Committee, pursuant to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage 1972 and its setting.

The application was examined by a Panel of five members (“the Panel”) pursuant to Chapter 2 of Part 6 of the 2008 Act and carried out in accordance with Chapter 4 of Part 6 of the 2008 Act, and the Infrastructure Planning (Examination Procedure) Rules 20103.

The Panel, having examined the application with the documents that accompanied the application, and the representations made and not withdrawn, has, in accordance with section 74(2) of the 2008 Act, made a report and recommendation to the Secretary of State.

The Secretary of State, having considered the representations made and not withdrawn, and the report of the Panel, has decided to make an Order granting development consent for the development described in the application with modifications which in the opinion of the Secretary of State do not make any substantial changes to the proposals comprised in the application.

The Secretary of State is satisfied that replacement land has been or will be given in exchange for the special category land (as defined in article 34 of this Order), and the replacement land (as defined in that article) has been or will be vested in the prospective seller and subject to the same rights, trusts and incidents as attach to the special category land, and that, accordingly, section 131(4) of the 2008 Act applies. In accordance with section 132(3) of the 2008 Act, the Secretary of State is satisfied, having considered the report and recommendation of the Panel, that the parcels of land comprised in the special category (rights) land (as defined in article 34 of this Order) when burdened with a new right created under this Order, will be no less advantageous than they were before the making of this Order to the following person: (a) the persons in whom they are vested; (b) other persons, if any, entitled to rights of common or other rights; and (c) the public.