Drax Power Station, Drax, Selby, YO8 8TE Data via plota.co.uk

Proposal

Request for a formal Screening Opinion in relation to the proposed modifications to the existing Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA) Beneficiation Plant Data via plota.co.uk

View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
10 Apr 2026
✓
Screening Opinion Issued
8 May 2026

Screening Opinion Issued on 8 May 2026 · Delegated · Last checked 12 Oct 2026

Site constraints 4

Agricultural land, grade 3b, surveyed
Not best and most versatile land (grades 1, 2 and 3a). Source: Natural England's post-1988 ALC field survey (Leeds). Natural England's Provisional ALC map (1:250,000, 1970s) had this area as grade 2; the survey is the definitive reading.
Where development of farmland is needed, policy prefers poorer land over the best and most versatile (grades 1, 2 and 3a). Three sources: Natural England's post-1988 field surveys, which are definitive where they exist; the Defra predictive map for England (2025) and the Welsh Government predictive map, modelled from the soil map with 3a and 3b split; and the 1970s provisional map, which planners and other services still show, coarser and with grade 3 undivided. Where the provisional and predicted grades disagree, treat the predicted grade as the current estimate and expect an application to carry its own survey.
Survey report ↗
National infrastructure project 51 m away: Yorkshire and Humber CCS Cross Country Pipeline
The site is 51 m from the project boundary. Pipeline, decided. The project page says whether consent was granted. Also within 2 km: White Rose Carbon Capture and Storage Project (decided, 149 m); Drax Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage Project (decided, 329 m); East Yorkshire Solar Farm (decided, 905 m); Drax Re-power (decided, 1380 m); Helios Renewable Energy Project (decided, 1888 m); Humber Carbon Capture Pipeline (at pre-application, 330 m).
Nationally significant infrastructure projects (power stations, electricity lines, pipelines, major roads and railways, harbours, airports and reservoirs) are consented by a Secretary of State under the Planning Act 2008, after an examination by the Planning Inspectorate, rather than by the council. The boundary is the one the Inspectorate consults on and can change as the scheme does. Projects are shown within 2 km of the site.
Planning Inspectorate project page ↗
Also on the record
Coalfield, development low risk area; Inside the Barlow built-up area.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt · No listed building at the site

Checked on 12 October 2026. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Mining Remediation Authority, the Planning Inspectorate and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

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Important details

Postcode
YO8 8TE
Received
10 Apr 2026
Validated
10 Apr 2026
Ward
Brayton & Barlow
Parish
Barlow
Decision
Screening Opinion Issued
Decision date
8 May 2026
Decision level
Delegated
Applicant
Show
Agent
ERM
North Yorkshire
Planning Authority Score
5/10
Average
#148 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Householder decisions

North Yorkshire ranks #152 out of 296 councils for householder decision speed. Householder applications are slightly more likely to be approved here (94%) than the national average (90%).

These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
North Yorkshire decision statistics
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
89%
Overall approval rate
Above avg (87%) #138 of 296
94%
Householder approved
Above avg (90%) #113 of 296
64%
Decided in 8 weeks
Above avg (63%) #152 of 296
44%
Extended time limit
Above avg (41%) #184 of 296
79%
Minor dwellings approved
546 decided (1-9 homes)
76%
Major dwellings approved
84 decided (10+ homes)
82%
Change of use approved
297 decided
4,714
Total decisions
506 refused in the year to March 2026