Agenda item

Proposal: Weston Marsh to East Leicestershire Grid Upgrade stage 1 consultation

Recommendation: That the Committee endorse the draft response to the National Grid and delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Planning & Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to issue the final response.

 

Proposal: Weston Marsh to East Leicestershire Grid Upgrade stage 1 consultation

Recommendation:That the Committee endorse the draft response to the National Grid and delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Planning & Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to issue the final response.

 

Noting comments in the public speaking session by:

 

District Councillors                                        Councillor David Bellamy

                                                                     Councillor Richard Dixon- Warren

 

Together with:

 

·       Provisions within National Policy Statements South Kesteven Local Plan and NPPF

 

During questions to Public Speakers, Members commented on the following:

 

·       Clarification over whether the Public Speaker felt as if the pylons should be underground or a reduced amount rather than 50-metre lattice pylons.

 

It was noted that there were several areas of ancient woodland, close to the area of the proposed pylons and that all should be protected.

 

·       Whether the main objection was to the wires being overhead.

 

Objections related to the wires being overhead, when wires underground would be preferred. Another objection was that 44 renewable grid connections could facilitate further development, including solar farms.

 

·       Whether the Public Speaker felt the application would impact the history and heritage of the area. It was queried whether any work had been undertaken to identity actual impact upon the history and heritage on the site.

 

·       It was queried how many hectares of agricultural land would be taken by the proposal.

 

It was confirmed the exact route of the pylons had not yet been decided.

 

It was confirmed that some constituents within Aveland Ward had voted against the proposal at Parish meetings.

 

·       Whether feedback from residents outlined any concerns of health and wellbeing.

 

The Public Speaker highlighted that several concerns raised were due to health and wellbeing. Reports had been reviewed online regarding potential health hazards from pylons, however, pylons had not been scientifically proven to cause health risk.

 

During questions to officers and debate, Members commented on the following:

 

·       One Member requested any concerns raised by the Public Speakers be included within the final response.

·       It was felt that an assumption had been made on the increased number of solar farms due to substations being on site.

 

The Development Management & Enforcement Manager clarified there was one substation within South Kesteven, which was near Corby Glen. However, the concern raised was with the proposed 44 new renewable energy connecting points and what this meant for the local area. 

 

The final response would include a note to request further information in this respect.

 

It was clarified that a formal pre-application consultation would take place in 2026. If the proposal be accepted for examination in 2028, there would be several opportunities to engage in the process as Local Planning Authority.

 

The following questions were raised in relation to the introduction section of the report:

 

·       Where would the grid connections be and what purpose would they serve?

·       What repercussions for the area may occur in relation to the substation at Corby Glen?

·       How much area needed for solar and wind to produce wattage required?

·       What radius around the substation would be vulnerable to solar wind applications and how may gigawatts could it support?

·       What is the evidence for the application boosting economy and jobs in the area?

·       How many pylons would be required?

 

The following questions were raised in relation to the policy context

 section of the report:

 

·       A query was raised on why a renewable energy appendix 3 had not been included within the list of relevant policies.

 

The Development Management & Enforcement Manager confirmed the renewable energy appendix specifically related to forms of renewable energy production in a more detailed analysis of wind turbines, solar farms and biomass.

 

It was suggested that Neighbourhood Plans be included within the response for the relevant areas.

 

·       A query was raised on whether any policies indicated how the health and wellbeing aspects could be satisfied when making planning decisions.

 

It was confirmed that reference to the following policies would be included within the response in relation to health and wellbeing:

 

-       Good Design Policy

-       Policy SD1

-       Various policies - National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

 

·       One Member questioned whether there would be any financial gain on having the pylons within South Kesteven.

 

It was confirmed that landowners may be compensated through a form of compulsory purchase order. National Grid were also exploring community benefit packages, meaning an ongoing grant would be available to the local communities.

 

As part of the development, an environmental impact assessment would take place at a later stage in order to protect heritage and history.

 

·       A question was raised on whether a note could be included on the possible impact on airspace.

 

The Assistant Director of Planning and Growth suggested that National Grid consult with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Ministry of Defence as statutory consultees on any issues with the pylons and airspace.

 

A suggestion was made to switch points 16.1 and 16.2 around within the report and for the inclusion of the word ‘any’ to be included as below:

 

Full Exploration of Alternatives

 

6.16.1    ‘It is imperative that the final design of any pylons must be carefully considered to minimise their visual and environmental impact. The use of traditional steel lattice pylons may not be appropriate in areas of high sensitivity. Alternatives designs or reduced-height structures should be prioritised where they help reduce visual intrusion and better integrate the infrastructure into the landscape.’

6.16.2     ‘SKDC requests that National Grid fully explore and transparently assess alternative options, including sensitive routing and the undergrounding of cables, particularly in environmentally or visually sensitive areas. While the Council understands the cost and engineering considerations involved, the long-term impacts on the landscape, ecology and biodiversity, local amenity, and heritage assets must be given appropriate weight in the decision-making process.

 

However, the new installation of pylons of any design across this rural area will have a significant impact on the character of the countryside which can not be underestimated. Therefore, SKDC regards it as essential that National Grid revisits their plans to fully explore, assess and cost transparently the alternative options of the underground routing of cables, particularly I environmentally or visually sensitive areas.

 

Whilst the Council understands the need for cost complications driving National Grid, the wider long term local cost implications and impacts on the landscape, land use, ecology and biodiversity, ancient woodlands and SSSI’s, local amenity, heritage assets, local economies, community wellbeing, use of imported steel, plus vulnerability to weatger damage impacting national resilience will all be mitigated by this option. This must therefore be given overriding consideration and appropriate weight in the decision-making process including consideration of cost sharing.

 

6.16.3. skdc requires full transparency on the currently unknown, wider planning implications, cost repercussions, loss of farmland, tourism and impact on settlements, community wellbeing for pressure on land use for:

 

i)               Additional renewable energy, battery storage sites feeding into the 44 individual grid connections to the substations. How much power is it anticipated to ptoduce?

ii)             Use of power by industry, data centres etc

iii)           Will there be more pylons on feeder routes?

 

 

Final Decision:

 

That the Committee ENDORSE the draft response to the National Grid and delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Planning & Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to issue the final response and include:

 

(The Committee had a 15-minute break).