Development consent has been granted to construct a new highway crossing of Lake Lothing, Lowestoft, connecting Riverside Road to the south of Lake Lothing with Peto Way to the north of Lake Lothing.

The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by Suffolk County Council on the 13 July 2018 and accepted for examination on 9 August 2018. Following an Examination during which the public, statutory consultees and interested parties were given the opportunity to give evidence to the Examining Authority, a recommendation was made to the Secretary of State on 5 September 2019.

The Planning Inspectorate is committed to giving local communities the opportunity of being involved in the examination of projects that may affect them. Local people, the local authority and other interested parties were able to participate in the 6 month long examination. The Examining Authority listened and gave full consideration to local views before making their recommendation.

The Planning Inspectorate’s Chief Executive, Sarah Richards said: “The Planning Inspectorate has again demonstrated its ability to examine Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) within timescales laid down in the Planning Act 2008 providing developers and investors with the confidence to build and improve the infrastructure this country needs to secure future economic growth.”

The decision announced today supports the recommendation made by the Planning Inspectorate. It is the 84th Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project to be examined and decided and brings the total of transport projects to twenty seven.

The decision, the recommendation made by the Examining Authority to the Secretary of State and the evidence considered by the Examining Authority in reaching its recommendation is publicly available on the National Infrastructure Planning website.

ENDS

Journalists wanting further information should contact the Planning Inspectorate Press Office, on: 0303 444 5004 or 0303 444 5005 or email: Press.office@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

Notes to editors:

The Planning Inspectorate, National Infrastructure Programme of Projects details the proposals which are anticipated to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate as applications in the coming months.

The first meeting of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Specialised Committee was held today via video conference, co-chaired by officials from the UK Government and European Commission. This Committee was tasked by the first meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee held on 30 March, to start work on implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol.

A representative from the Northern Ireland Executive also attended as part of the UK delegation in line with the commitment made in the New Decade, New Approach deal.

The UK and the EU exchanged updates on the implementation of the Protocol and discussed the preparatory work for future decisions to be taken by the Joint Committee.

The UK was clear that our approach at all times will be focused on protecting the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and gains of the peace process, and on preserving Northern Ireland’s place in the UK.

UK officials reaffirmed our commitment to complying with our legal obligations under the Protocol, just as we expect the EU to comply with theirs.

The two sides agreed to convene the Joint Consultative Working Group established under the Protocol which will be a further forum for discussion in relation to the Protocol.

Today the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis, and the Tánaiste, Simon Coveney, jointly chaired a third conference call with the First Minister Arlene Foster, deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill, Health Minister Robin Swann and Minister for Health Simon Harris to discuss the ongoing response to COVID-19.

They discussed the latest developments on a North/South and East-West basis on the efforts to combat Covid-19.

They emphasised the importance of continuing the good engagement that has taken place between Health Ministers. They reaffirmed their commitment to continued close contact and work, through the process set out in the memorandum of understanding, for the benefit of all people across the island of Ireland.

They agreed that all our health and social care workers continue to show extraordinary courage, and dedication, in their efforts on the frontline to tackle this virus.

There is also no doubt that the responsibility shown by the public in adhering to social distancing has made a huge difference in controlling the spread of the virus and saving lives. With public health measures under ongoing review in both jurisdictions, it was agreed that it will be essential to maintain strong North/South collaborative arrangements and, wherever possible, consistency of approach.

Health Ministers and Chief Medical Officers will continue to work in support of these objectives through the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding and further developments in this regard will be reviewed at the next meeting in this format.