The Save Crossness Nature Reserve campaign group are devastated that the Minister for Energy Consumers (on behalf of the Secretary of State) has granted development consent for Cory's decarbonisation project.

This means around 12% of Crossness Nature Reserve will be lost to infrastructure for Cory's carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility.  And of course there are impacts and risks to the wider nature reserve associated with the development.

The campaign group worked incredibly hard, looking into every angle with which to challenge the project and we are very proud of the serious and credible objections we made.  Our submissions were expressly referenced in the Examining Authority's report, which included discussion of our botany report.

While the overall decision is clearly not what we wanted, there were numerous wins and Cory did not get their application through as easily as they might have expected.

We had six weeks from the 5 November 2025 in which to raise a challenge to the High Court.  After serious consideration and much discussion within the group and with our legal representatives, it is with heavy heart that we decided not to challenge the Secretary of State's decision.

We still believe the location of the CCS plant is wholly inappropriate.  However, given the UK government's strong support of CCS we do not feel the substantial costs involved to mount a judicial review are appropriate in the current economic climate.  We know so many people are struggling financially day to day, and we are truly thankful for every penny that has been donated to Save Crossness Nature Reserve.

However, this is not the end of the campaign!

We will continue to voice our displeasure, and you can too!  Please keep spreading the word by talking about how Cory are building on Crossness Nature Reserve.  You never know, it might just influence future decisions.

And if other interested parties have decided to bring their own challenge we will be happy to help as much as we can.

We would like to thank each and every person who has taken the time to sign our petition, donate time, money or items, and who raised awareness of the campaign by discussing the project within the community and beyond.  We have been blown away by your generosity and support.

Special thanks also go to the environmental specialists we were able to employ due to the monies raised, and of course our legal team: Planning Solicitor Jed Holloway at Southwark Law Centre and Barrister Acland Bryant of Garden Court Chambers.  Their expert knowledge, hours of reading and genuine passion really helped us present our case, especially at the hearings.  We can certainly recommend their services!

Moving forward, the Save Crossness Nature Reserve campaign group will be closely monitoring the development to ensure Cory adhere to planning permission conditions, especially concerning mitigation and the Landscape, Biodiversity, Access and Recreation Delivery Strategy (LaBARDS).

Thank you, and we wish you a healthy and happy 2026!

Lisa, Laurence, Calum, Ralph and Sarah

www.savecrossnessnaturereserve.org

On 8th August 2025, the Inspector sent his recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (SoS). His recommendation was not made public.

The SoS has three months to make his decision. 

On 3rd September 2025, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero issued a consultation letter to some of the enquiry's participants. 

We should know more by early December 2025.

The DCO process is now drawing to a close.

SCNR’s key submissions are encapsulated in the following propositions: 

a. The need case is not met. 

b. The statutory test for compulsory acquisition has not been met; 

c. The land being lost is special category land; 

d. Section 127 of the Planning Act 2008 prevents compulsory acquisition of Crossness Nature Reserve; 

e. The Applicant has failed to properly apply the mitigation hierarchy; 

f. The proposed development will result in severe planning harm; 

g. The mitigation proposed to account for the planning harms associated with the development is insufficient; 

h. The Applicant places great reliance on the carbon capture achieved from the Proposed Scheme, and its mistaken belief that the CNP presumptions consequently apply. 

What happens next:

The Inspector will write a report and make recommendations to the Secretary of State who will make the final decision on whether to grant the Carbon Capture Plant planning consent.

The formal Cory examination process is drawing to a close. For those of you following proceedings, there are two more deadlines (Deadline 6 on 29^th April and Deadline 7 on 2^nd May), with the examination period closing on 5^th May.

This means that the Examining Authority (ExA) should have all the information he requires by 5^th May. He will write a recommendation report for the Secretary of State (SoS) within three months, and the SoS then has a further three months to decide whether he accepts or rejects the ExA’s decision, so we won’t know the final outcome until later in the year.

Our Campaign Group is working tirelessly in the background, and thanks to your enormous generosity, the services of a solicitor, a barrister, and environmental specialists, have resulted in incredibly strong submissions at every deadline.

Submissions can be seen here: Documents | Cory Decarbonisation Project and more information available here: www.savecrossnessnaturereserve.org

Meanwhile, nature continues to do thrive for now; there was a Wheatear on Lagoon Field yesterday, Coot chicks on Great Breach Dyke, Buzzards and Kestrels, and lots of bee and butterfly activity, so plenty to see on Crossness Nature Reserve.

Thank you for your wonderful support,

Laurence, Calum, Sarah, Lisa and Ralph

The Development Control Order for Cory's Carbon Capture and Storage planning application is coming to a close. 

There will be an opportunity to present a final and 6th submission at the end of April 2025, and closing statements at the begining of May 2025.

After this, the inspector will have 3 months to produce a report. Finally, the Secretary of State will make a decision.

Jed Holloway, solicitor from Planning Voice at the Southwark Law Centre is preparing our closing statement.

Thank you so much for your continued support!

Thank you so very much for your continued support.

All our campaign's submissions can be viewed on the Government portal.

https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010128/documents

We are gearing up to the Compulsory Acquistion Hearings which will take place on Tuesday 11th February 2025. 

https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp-content/ipc/uploads/projects/EN010128/EN010128-000689-CAH2%20detailed%20agenda.pdf

We are represented by Jed Holloway, solicitor at Planning Voice, Southwark Law Centre and Acland Bryant, barrister, Garden Court Chambers.

There will be further hearings which we will attend next week as well as a site visit led by the Examining Authority.

We shall keep you updated of our progress.  

The Planning Inspectorate have announced their Preliminary Meeting will be held on Tuesday 5 November 2024 from 10am.  Venue: The Delta Hotels Bexleyheath (DA6 7JZ).  Access will also be available via Microsoft Teams.

Everyone who submitted comments to the Examining Authority should have received an invitation via email (it may have gone to your junk folder - sender address: [email protected]).

We urge as many people invited as possible to attend (in person or remotely).  Even if you don't wish to speak, it will show your support for our campaign.

As always, thank you so much for your continued support.

Lisa, Laurence & Calum 

PS  We look forward to seeing you at our 2 November fundraiser (https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/scnr/wild-bexley/e-bvjgkq).  Some tickets still available!