The Utility Regulator received a total of 15 responses to the consultation. Those that aren’t confidential have been published on our website. The responses broadly agreed with most suggestions put forward in the consultation document.
The Utility Regulator has carefully considered all of the responses received. Incorporating the respondents’ views, we have decided to proceed as outlined below, taking each consultation issue in turn.
Should the sites be released to the market?
All sites in the consultation will be made available for sale/lease. There will be a distinction made between sites suitable and sites unsuitable/less likely to be suitable for generation purposes as per the consultation.
The three sites below will be restricted to generation or other electricity industry uses only. Due to their strategic nature, and hence potential value to the Northern Ireland consumer, the sites will only be available for lease.
- Belfast West (generation use only as per terms of the Fee Farm Grant for the site)
- Kilroot adjoining lands
- Coolkeeragh adjoining lands
The two sites below are unsuitable/less likely to be suitable for a generation station and therefore have no restrictions on use. The sites will be available for lease or sale.
- Camlough lands
- Lisahally Tank 11 site
What criteria should be used in any subsequent request for proposals?
The final assessment criteria have yet to be finalised. However, the criteria will be agreed before request for proposals are issued.
Respondents to the consultation were in agreement with our suggestions, with the exception that rental income should not be an assessment criterion. It was thought rental/sale value should be at normal market rates.
Respondents agreed that by making the sites available for sale/lease does not guarantee their release as each proposal will be subject to, when finalised, any and all pre-conditions and assessment criteria stated. A number of suggestions were also made that will be drawn upon in finalising the assessment criteria.
Next steps
We have issued NIE’s Land Bank business with a direction that instructs them to appoint an appropriately qualified and suitable person to act as agent on their behalf. The agent will be responsible for issuing a request for proposals for the sites, taking receipt of proposals and acting as liaison with those interested in and making proposals.