4.10.1 APL engaged with the local community and key stakeholders during an early phase of non-statutory consultation between June and September 2014, in advance of the commencement of the statutory consultation phase and at a point where the Project was still being actively refined. This was at the same time as seeking feedback from Statutory Consultees on the Scoping Report.
4.10.2 Local community representatives at the national, regional and local levels were consulted by APL and public exhibitions were held in Clydach, Felindre and Tircoed in June 2014. As part of this non-statutory phase of consultation, APL explained the rationale and key objectives of the Project, gave reasons why the Project Site had been chosen and presented opportunities for written and verbal feedback on the early, emerging project concepts.
4.10.3 Drawing on this early feedback on the proposals, APL was able to consider the consultation responses as part of the design development and environmental assessment processes. This phase of non-statutory consultation helped to shape the development of the Project. This process will be described in detail in the Consultation Report that will be submitted with the DCO Application.
4.10.4 APL conducted a single phase of statutory consultation under s42, s47 and s48 of PA 2008 between 13th October 2014 and 16th November 2014. Published in September 2014, and agreed with CCS prior to publication, the Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC) Notice confirmed where and when the SoCC could be inspected by members of the public. Letters inviting comments on the Project, including the Preliminary Environmental Information, were sent to s42 consultees directly. Consultation notices were published in national and local newspapers under s48 of the PA 2008.
4.10.5 The statutory consultation phase also coincided with the publication of the 2014 PEIR. The 2014 PEIR provided the environmental information collected in the early stages of the EIA process as well as an assessment, on a preliminary basis, of the likely significant environmental effects of the Project. The 2014 PEIR, together with supporting information and a Non-Technical Summary (2014 PEIR NTS), was compiled to accompany APL's statutory consultation with both the local community and prescribed consultees in advance of submitting its DCO Application. The feedback received relating to the 2014 PEIR has further helped to inform and refine the EIA process as well as the design and development of the Project.
4.10.6 Since the 2014 PEIR there have been changes to the Project resulting from design progression, consultation and feasibility. The number of generation units, turbines, and stacks have been reduced. This is further described in Chapter 5: Alternatives Considered.