Proposed UKPN Connection and Substation
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Bramford to Twinstead Connection Project Proposed UKPN Connection and Substation Consultation Feedback Report National Grid National Grid House Warwick Technology Park Gallows Hill Warwick CV34 6DA August 2013 Version 2 This version of the report was prepared in response to requests from Braintree District Council and Essex County Council that their positions be clarified. It has involved amendments to paragraphs 5.4, 9.7 and 9.8. Bramford to Twinstead Connection Project Proposed UKPN Connection and Substation – Consultation Feedback ______________________________________________________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................................................... 3 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 4 2 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................. 6 3 OPTIONS APPRAISAL ............................................................................................. 11 4 CONSULTATION ARRANGEMENTS ...................................................................... 15 5 RESPONSE MANAGEMENT ..................................................................................... 21 6 REPRESENTATIONS FROM PRESCRIBED BODIES AND LOCAL BODIES 23 7 ISSUES AND REPRESENTATIONS – STRATEGIC OPTIONS ........................ 37 8 ISSUES AND REPRESENTATIONS – SUBSTATION LOCATIONS ............... 52 9 CONCLUSIONS AND DECISIONS ......................................................................... 71 LIST OF APPENDICES A PARISH COUNCILS CONSULTED B OTHER PRESCRIBED BODIES CONSULTED C OTHER BODIES CONSULTED D CONSULTATION LETTER TO RESIDENTS E FEEDBACK FORM F CATEGORISATION OF REPRESENTATIONS G LETTER TO PARISH COUNCILS H CONSULTATION ZONE MAP I CONSULTATION LETTER TO STATUTORY CONSULTEES 1 Bramford to Twinstead Connection Project Proposed UKPN Connection and Substation – Consultation Feedback ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ABBREVIATIONS AIS Air Insulated Switchgear AONB Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty CLA Country Land Association DCO Development Consent Order DPD Development Plan Document DSOR Distribution System Options Report EIA Environmental Impact Assessment ES Environmental Statement GIS Gas Insulated Switchgear GSP Grid Supply Point HDD Horizontal Directional Drilling HGV Heavy Goods Vehicle HIS Hybrid Insulated Switchgear ICNIRP International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection IET Institute of Engineering and Technology IPC Infrastructure Planning Commission MVA Mega Volt Ampere NG National Grid NPPF National Planning Policy Framework NPS National Policy Statement NSIP Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project OHL Overhead Line PILs Persons with an Interest in Land PINS Planning Inspectorate SGT Super Grid Transformer SSOAR Substation Siting Options Appraisal Report TEP The Environment Partnership UKPN United Kingdom Power Networks 3 Bramford to Twinstead Connection Project Proposed UKPN Connection and Substation – Consultation Feedback ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 1 INTRODUCTION Purpose of document 1.1 National Grid is currently undertaking a comprehensive pre-application consultation programme on the Bramford to Twinstead Connection Project (the Project). This feedback report forms part of the Stage 2 non-statutory consultation. 1.2 This Feedback Report presents the results of consultation on the findings of two reports published in February 2013 relating to the provision of a substation associated with the Project : Distribution System Options Report (DSOR); Substation Siting Options Appraisal Report (SSOAR). 1.3 The DSOR explains why National Grid and UK Power Networks (UKPN) consider that providing a new substation to the west of Twinstead Tee in Essex (south of Sudbury) would be the most appropriate means of providing replacement capacity in the electricity distribution network. This replacement capacity is required in order to maintain security of supply following the removal of a section of the existing 132kV overhead line between Twinstead Tee and Burstall Bridge which is required to accommodate the Project. The SSOAR considers the merits of alternative locations for such a substation. 1.4 The consultation ran from 11th February to 8th April 20131. It invited the views of statutory and non-statutory consultees and of local communities in the vicinity of potential locations for a substation west of Twinstead Tee. Views were sought on the strategic options for providing replacement capacity, on the selection of the preferred strategic option involving the provision of a substation in this area, and on alternative locations for a substation within the area. 1.5 This Feedback Report sets out National Grid’s response to the representations made in the consultation and how representations have influenced this decision and the selection of the preferred substation location to be taken forward to detailed design. Where appropriate, responses have been developed in association with UKPN. 1.6 In preparing this Feedback Report, consideration has been given to guidance and advice notes prepared by the Government and the Planning Inspectorate. 1 Later extended for some consultees – see Chapter 4 4 Bramford to Twinstead Connection Project Proposed UKPN Connection and Substation – Consultation Feedback ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Structure of the Feedback Report 1.7 This report is structured as follows: Chapter 2 – provides the background to the project and consultation to date; Chapter 3 – presents a summary of the appraisal of strategic options and of alternative substation locations, which formed the basis for the consultation; Chapter 4 – outlines the consultation arrangements; Chapter 5 – describes how the quantitative and qualitative analyses of representations were managed; Chapter 6 – sets out the representations received from “prescribed bodies”, including local authorities, parish councils and statutory bodies and explains where representations received from the local community, including persons with an interest in the land, local bodies, Community Forums, Thematic Groups and the general public have been addressed; Chapter 7 – summarises the issues raised in representations from all parties relating to strategic options, National Grid’s responses to them and how these have been taken into account in taking the Project forward; Chapter 8 – summarises, by study area, the issues raised in representations from all parties relating to the alternative substation locations, National Grid’s responses to them and how these have been taken into account in taking the Project forward; Chapter 9 – concludes the report and identifies the next steps in the process. 5 Bramford to Twinstead Connection Project Proposed UKPN Connection and Substation – Consultation Feedback ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 2 BACKGROUND Project development 2.1 In July 2011, National Grid announced its preferred corridor for developing a scheme for a 400kV connection between Bramford substation in Suffolk (west of Ipswich) and Twinstead in Essex (south of Sudbury). This corridor (Corridor 2) incorporates the route of a 132kV overhead line (the PCB line) comprising part of the electricity distribution system now owned and operated by the Distribution Network Operator UK Power Networks (UKPN). 2.2 The preferred corridor, Corridor 2, would involve removing the existing 132kV overhead line between Burstall Bridge, 2.5km to the south of Bramford substation, and Twinstead in order to accommodate the 400kV connection. Further works would then be required to ensure security of supply to the local electricity distribution network. In accordance with a commitment made in the preferred corridor announcement and the Statement of Community Consultation2 (SoCC), National Grid has been undertaking further technical and environmental studies relating to the options for these works. 2.3 UKPN has undertaken further studies which considered a range of strategic options for maintaining local electricity supplies, including the construction of new 132kV overhead lines or underground cables between different points on its network as well as proposals for new substations. In July 2012 UKPN confirmed that a new substation to the west of Twinstead Tee would be its preferred option. 2.4 Eight strategic options were identified in the UKPN report3. National Grid has reviewed these options and a separate Distribution System Options Report4 demonstrates how each option has been assessed in accordance with National Grid’s guidelines on Options Appraisal. The report concludes that the strategic option to be taken forward 2 National Grid : Bramford to Twinstead Tee Connection Project – Consultation Strategy : November 2011 3 UK Power Networks : 132kV network reconfiguration to accommodate wider systems work : July 2012 4 National Grid : Bramford to Twinstead Tee Connection Project - Distribution System Options Report : February 2013 6 Bramford to Twinstead Connection Project Proposed UKPN Connection and Substation – Consultation Feedback ______________________________________________________________________________________________ for further