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Planning, Design and Access Statement

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Planning, Design and Access Statement A GLOBAL CENTRE OF RAIL EXCELLENCE IN WALES Contents 1. Introduction 2. Objectives, Trends and Benefits 3. Site and Context Analysis 4. Design Development 5. The Proposals 6. Policy Appraisal and Alignment 7. Summary & Conclusions A GLOBAL CENTRE OF RAIL EXCELLENCE IN WALES 1. Introduction A GLOBAL CENTRE OF RAIL EXCELLENCE IN WALES Introduction This Planning, Design and Access Statement has been prepared by Ove Arup and Partners Previous planning applications for development at the site were subject to Environmental Limited (Arup) on behalf of Welsh Government in support of a cross boundary outline Impact Assessment (EIA). Under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact planning application (with all matters reserved), submitted to both Powys County Council Assessment) (Wales) Regulations 2017, the development has been deemed as requiring (PCC) and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council (NPTCBC) for the development EIA, the scope of it having been agreed by both PCC and NPTCBC in a joint Scoping of a Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) at the site of Nant Helen Surface Mine, response in November 2019. Onllwyn at which coaling operations are coming to an end and final restoration by Celtic Energy was consented in June 2020 under a section 73 application 19/1899/REM. Given that the application is in outline with all matters reserved, it has been agreed that this document can be a combined Planning, Design and Access Statement which sets the In April 2020, Celtic Energy submitted two planning applications reference 20/0738/FUL context for the planning application and proposals therein. It considers the context to the (Powys) and P/2020/0362 (Neath Port Talbot) for a complementary earthworks scheme site and its surroundings, the design evolution of the proposals and the environmental to provide a comprehensive, flexible and adaptable landform across the entire site that impacts of the proposed development and assesses the material planning considerations could support a wide range of future uses which included the GCRE, establishing the against the policy background in justifying the granting of planning permission. It should earthworks formation and associated drainage and landscaping for two of the key be read in conjunction with the Environmental Impact Assessment. components of the rail testing facility, namely the high speed and infrastructure test track loops and rail line connections. Both were consented in July 2020. Procedures for dealing with cross boundary development are made within the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, Deemed Applications and Site Visits) (Wales) Regulations 2015 (as amended) and provides that planning applications should be submitted in each jurisdiction and determined by each local planning authority concerned. In this case, a planning application will be submitted to both NPTCBC and PCC. Environmental Impact Assessment The site of the proposed development is more than 1 hectare in area and constitutes major development as defined within the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Wales) Order 2012 (as amended). Subsequently, the planning application has been scoped to accord with the requirements associated with major development as prescribed by the regulations. A GLOBAL CENTRE OF RAIL EXCELLENCE IN WALES Introduction Material Planning Considerations The nature and scale of the proposed development, in the context of the site’s location and features, creates several material planning considerations which have been broadly considered in a format that mirrors the EIA (construction and operation effects) and include; • Principle of development and the land use and the prevailing Development Plan policy context • Socio-Economic benefits • Geotechnical (land stability and contamination) • Construction Management (focused primarily on noise mitigation) • Hydrological Impact (sustainable drainage, water quality and flood risk) • Landscape and Visual Impact (national park, common land and rights of way) • Ecological Impact (SSSI, SINC, habitats and protected species) • Heritage Impact (Scheduled Monument) This Statement will focus on addressing the key aspects of the proposed development and those which give rise to potentially significant effects. Aspects which give rise to lesser effects are addressed at length within the EIA and are not duplicated here. A GLOBAL CENTRE OF RAIL EXCELLENCE IN WALES 2.Objectives, Trends and Benefits A GLOBAL CENTRE OF RAIL EXCELLENCE IN WALES Objectives GCRE aims to meet a number of objectives which have been developed to address the context associated with mining. issues and needs of the UK rail industry: • Deliver a UK-based modern and comprehensive rail testing facility to provide the capacity and capabilities for rigorous testing of rolling stock, infrastructure and integrated systems from prototype to implementation. • Act as a catalyst for the creation of a rail technology hub in Wales, providing a flexible, open-market platform for leading R&D activity that drives innovation. • Provide opportunities to work with industry to support skills development through high- quality employment in fair, secure and sustainable jobs that contribute to reducing regional inequality and promoting regeneration in Wales. • Develop and test rail sector principles, standards and specifications which improve the UK's competitive strengths as a world leader in achieving carbon neutrality, contributing to an overall decrease in carbon emissions across the rail industry. Beyond the industry objectives, there are other reasons/drivers of change or desirable outcomes that play directly into either the site or the local context, chief among these are: • A transformational impact on the heads of valleys by regenerating the post-coal landscape and creating new socio-economic opportunities. • Interpretation of the historic environment and the transport heritage aspects of the mining context of the site and beyond given the presence of a section the linear tram road scheduled monument on the site. At present, accessibility is limited and there is no in-situ interpretation and one outcome of this scheme could be an improvement to the experience of using the local footpath network through narrative on the historic transport A GLOBAL CENTRE OF RAIL EXCELLENCE IN WALES The Case for Change The UK does not possess anything approaching such a high-quality facility as that planned • Removing risk from the introduction of new trains and other assets by allowing them to at GCRE. Both public and private sector organisations frequently use test facilities in be thoroughly tested prior to deployment. This would avoid the need for new trains Europe and the USA, supporting jobs and building competing expertise in other countries. being tested on the national network or rushed into service before all performance risks Moreover, these other facilities are often owned and operated by a single commercial had been dealt with (note issues with new inter-city trains; certain electrification assets; entity, which stifles access to testing and innovation. With projects such as HS2, and projects such as Crossrail). With infrastructure and rolling stock testing in a single CrossRail2, Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Cardiff Valleys transformation location, more robust systems integration testing can be conducted. approaching, together with the soon to be time-expired status of the majority of the UK’s signalling infrastructure (in itself an estimated £35 bn renewals programme from 2025), • Tackling ever-rising costs across the rail sector by allowing new technologies to be the need for safe and efficient testing to drive performance and cost-efficiency has never effectively tested and commissioned rather than committing them to operations before been greater. Operational independence and full open-market access is critical to allow they are fully developed. competition and innovation to flourish. • Generating high quality employment and economic opportunities for communities in GCRE will address a number of specific issues: South West Wales. • Supporting UK train manufacturers and encouraging the establishment of further UK • Providing further opportunities for sustainable technologies associated with the rail manufacturing facilities and testing capacity. sector (electric, battery, links to sustainable generation). • Supporting the development of a UK digital railway industry by providing high quality and safe testing facilities for digital signalling, train control and asset management technologies. • Delivering high-tonnage endurance testing of railway infrastructure particularly track and structures; such a facility will enable infrastructure to be rapidly tested and verified and would be unique in Europe, potentially attracting customers from around the world – Network Rail has a strong and confirmed interest in this element. A GLOBAL CENTRE OF RAIL EXCELLENCE IN WALES Industry Trends The rail industry faces substantial challenges and opportunities to exploit new, emerging and existing technology within a rail environment. For example: Traction Control Digitisation Design Hydrogen fuel cell battery packs European train control system Data transfer and communication Lightweight materials automated inspection and maintenance Discontinuous electrification Automatic train control 2040 diesel deadline A GLOBAL CENTRE OF RAIL EXCELLENCE IN WALES Research Trends The GCRE is the vehicle to create a rail technology hub for business and research, creating and strengthening
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