Agenda item

Replacement of existing underground cables and installation of new cross site underground cables in the existing Pentir substation and ancillary works 

 

LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Menna Baines

 

Link to relevant background documents

DECISION: To approve with conditions

 

1. 5 years
2. In accordance with the plans, all recommendations in the documents and assessments, and the approved Environmental Statement.
3. Public Protection Conditions
4. Trunk Road Conditions
5. Compliance with the Green Infrastructure Statement along with future maintenance work.
6. Ensure bilingual signage with priority given to the Welsh language.
7. The applicant must submit to the Local Planning Authority a Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) which will satisfy the Welsh Government, as the Overseeing Organisation for the Strategic Road Network (SRN).

 

 

Replacing existing underground cables and the installation of new cross-site underground cables at the current Pentir sub-station as well as associated works.

 

Attention was drawn to the late observations form - guidance to impose a condition by the Assembly's Transport Unit.

 

a)           The Planning Officer highlighted that the proposal was part of a wider project to reinforce overhead lines and cables on the existing circuits between the Pentir and Trawsfynydd sub-stations; the Project was part of the wider network transmission upgrades needed to facilitate the work of connecting 50 Gigawatt of offshore wind energy by 2030.

 

It was explained that the proposed works will be fully incorporated within the existing footprint of Pentir Sub-station and will utilise the existing access road, storage areas, welfare facilities, office spaces, and staff car park. Reference was made to the Environmental Statement which provided an overview of the Project, the main alternatives considered in the development of the Project (where appropriate), information about the current environment, and an assessment of the likely significant impacts of the Project. Where appropriate, it was noted that mitigation measures have been included to avoid, prevent, reduce or offset significant adverse environmental impacts.

 

Increasing capacity on the existing transmission line between Pentir and Trawsfynydd sub-stations has been identified as a step that urgently needs to be taken to provide more transmission capacity, and is acknowledged by Ofgem.

 

Reference was made to policy ISA 1 which was supportive of proposals regarding water, electricity, gas services, etc. to improve the local provision, subject to detailed planning considerations. In the context of policy ADN 3, although the development is not a renewable energy scheme, it would form part of the support network that could be used in managing the renewable supply. To this end, it could be considered part of the renewable energy network. A thorough assessment was conducted of the relevant criteria, and it was considered that the proposal was acceptable in terms of principle and complied with Criterion 1 Policy ADN3 in terms of the fact that all impacts had been sufficiently mitigated. Similarly, it was noted that policies PCYFF 5, PS 5, PS 6 and PS 7 are supportive of schemes for the development of renewable technologies that contribute to protecting the environment and mitigating climate change and this plan therefore met the objectives of these policies.

 

In the context of transport and access matters, once it is operational, there will be no demand for additional vehicular access to the site and there will be no long-term impacts on highway safety deriving from the development. It was noted that the Assembly's Transport Unit was happy with the development subject to conditions and, consequently, it was considered that the proposal complied with the requirements of Policy TRA 2 and TRA 4 of the LDP in terms of highway safety and convenience.

 

In terms of archaeology and heritage matters, it was highlighted that there were many Scheduled Monuments in the site's vicinity. Heneb noted that the desk assessment was very thorough and had been written well and they agreed with the conclusion of the Assessment of the Environmental Impact (AEA); the application was therefore acceptable under policies PS 20 - impact on heritage features and AT 4 of the LDP - the protection of sites of archaeological importance from harm.

 

A Welsh Language Statement was submitted as part of the application which had considered the potential impacts of the Pentir proposed work on the use of the Welsh language in the local community. Although no adverse effects were identified in the assessment, measures were proposed to ensure that the use of the Welsh language was maintained. An Environmental Statement was also submitted which assessed the impact on the environment and it was concluded that, with the imposition of planning conditions, the impacts of the development could be satisfactorily mitigated and environmental features protected.

 

The visual and landscape impacts were considered acceptable as the works were within an already developed site and the development protected the amenities of residential properties around the site satisfactorily.

 

It was reported that the proposed development would extend and improve electricity connections across north Wales with the economic benefits acknowledged. Having considered all the relevant planning matters including the local and national policies and guidance, the officers recommended to approve the application with conditions.

 

b)           Taking advantage of the right to speak, the applicant's representatives made the following observations:

·        The application included work that would occur within the existing Pentir National Grid Sub-station and part of the Pentir to Trawsfynydd Project that would reinforce and

restore the existing line between Pentir and Trawsfynydd.

·        ⁠The work would provide more capacity in the network and allow the network to be safer whilst allowing more clean energy to supply homes and businesses. 

·        The work forming part of the application normally would be considered as an 'approved development'. However, because the work forms part of the Pentir to Trawsfynydd Project, with planning applications being submitted to the Planning Committee in the coming months, planning permission was required for the work. 

·        The work proposed as part of the application will occur within the existing boundaries of the Pentir Sub-station site and include replacing the existing underground cables, as well as installing new underground cables across the site.

·        The planning officers expressed that the work was acceptable and recommended to approve with conditions. 

·        He asked the Committee kindly to support the application, which formed a key part of the work to reinforce the network between Pentir and Trawsfynydd.

 

c)           The Monitoring Officer noted that the Local Member (Councillor Menna Baines) had noted in an e-mail that she had no objection to the recommendation.

 

ch)    It was proposed and seconded to approve the application

 

         RESOLVED to approve with conditions

 

1.     5 years

2.     In accordance with the plans, all recommendations in the documents and assessments, and the approved Environmental Statement.

3.     Public Protection Conditions

4.     Trunk Road Conditions

5.     Compliance with the Green Infrastructure Statement along with future maintenance work.

6.     Ensure bilingual signage with priority given to the Welsh language.

7.     The applicant must submit to the Local Planning Authority a Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) which will satisfy the Welsh Government, as the Overseeing Organisation for the Strategic Road Network (SRN).