1 © Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions UK Limited 2.3 Volume 2, Chapter 3: Alternatives Rampion 2 PEIR. Volume 2, Chapter 3: Alternatives 2 © Wood Group UK Limited Contents 3. Alternatives 4 3.1 Introduction 4 3.2 Approach to design evolution 6 Introduction 6 Commitments Register 6 Design evolution process 15 3.3 Offshore site selection 16 Offshore wind farm area of search 16 Offshore export cable corridor 18 Offshore refinement since the Scoping stage 20 3.4 Onshore site selection 21 Introduction 21 Identification of grid connection location 22 Development of the onshore part of the Scoping Boundary 47 Onshore cable corridor refinement since the Scoping stage 48 Onshore substation search area refinement since Scoping 63 Cable route options to Wineham Lane North and Bolney Road / Kent Street substation search areas 69 3.5 Alternative technologies 74 Offshore 74 Onshore 76 3.6 PINS Scoping Opinion responses 77 3.7 Next steps 82 3.8 Glossary of terms and abbreviations 82 3.9 References 86 Table 3-1 Relevant embedded environmental measures to design evolution 8 Table 3-2 Description of landfall to grid connection options considered 29 Table 3-3 Summary of constraints for landfall to substation options 41 Table 3-4 BRAG appraisal approach for design refinement 49 Table 3-5 PINS Scoping Opinion responses relevant to the consideration of alternatives 78 Table 3-6 Glossary of terms and abbreviations 82 Graphic 3-1 Design evolution process 15 Graphic 3-2 Overall onshore site selection process 22 Graphic 3-3 Electricity Transmission System in Southeast England (based on National Grid, 2020) 23 Graphic 3-4 Climping to Bolney 32 Rampion 2 PEIR. Volume 2, Chapter 3: Alternatives 3 © Wood Group UK Limited Graphic 3-5 Climping to Lovedean 34 Graphic 3-6 East Wittering to Lovedean 35 Graphic 3-7 Bracklesham to Lovedean 36 Graphic 3-8 Church Norton to Lovedean 38 Graphic 3-9 Tide Mills to Little Horsted 40 Graphic 3-10 Cable route options considered at Climping 51 Graphic 3-11 Cable route options considered at Warningcamp 53 Graphic 3-12 Cable route options considered at Norfolk Clump 55 Graphic 3-13 Cable route options considered at Washington 57 Graphic 3-14 Cable route options considered at Windmill Quarry 59 Graphic 3-15 Cable route options considered at Henfield 61 Graphic 3-16 Cable route options considered at Bolney Road/Kent Street 62 Graphic 3-17 Star Road substation search area option 65 Graphic 3-18 Wineham Lane South substation search area option 66 Graphic 3-19 Bolney Road/ Kent Street substation search area option 67 Graphic 3-20 Wineham Lane North substation search area 68 Graphic 3-21 Wineham Lane North and Wineham Lane South cable route options 69 Graphic 3-22 Bolney Lane/Kent Street cable route options 73 Volume 3: Figures Figure 3.1 Offshore site selection considerations Figure 3.2 Offshore export cable corridor Figure 3.3 Offshore design refinement Figure 3.4 Landfall to connection point options Figure 3.5 Overview of cable route refinements Figure 3.6 Onshore substation search area refinement Rampion 2 PEIR. Volume 2, Chapter 3: Alternatives 4 © Wood Group UK Limited 3. Alternatives 3.1 Introduction 3.1.1 This chapter considers the reasonable alternatives to the Proposed Development. It presents the design evolution process followed to-date, explains the outcomes of the process which have led to the refinement of the PEIR Assessment Boundary, and explains the environmental and other considerations which have been taken into account. The PEIR Assessment Boundary combines the Areas of Search for the offshore and onshore infrastructure associated with the Proposed Development. It is defined as the area within which the Proposed Development and associated infrastructure will be located, including the temporary and permanent construction and operational work areas. 3.1.2 By way of context, it is a requirement of The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (the ‘EIA Regulations 2017’) that the Environmental Statement (ES) submitted with the Application for development consent should include: ‘a description of the reasonable alternatives studied by the applicant, which are relevant to the proposed development and its specific characteristics, and an indication of the main reasons for the option chosen, taking into account the effects of the development on the environment” (regulation 14(2)(d))’. 3.1.3 Chapter 2: Policy and legislative context sets out the underlying and supporting documentation for development of offshore wind energy development. The information provided in this chapter will be updated for inclusion in the ES in accordance with the EIA Regulations 2017 and other relevant legislation as the design of the Proposed Development evolves. The design process for the Proposed Development has taken full consideration of the National Policy Statement (NPS) for Energy (EN-1) (DECC, 2011a), the National Policy Statement (NPS) for Renewable Energy (EN-3) (DECC, 2011b), the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, 2019), and Design Principles for National Infrastructure (National Infrastructure Commission, 2020). 3.1.4 Section 4.4 of NPS EN-1 indicates the need to present the main alternatives considered as part of the Proposed Development and to demonstrate consideration of environmental, social and economic effects including, where relevant, technical and commercial feasibility (paragraph 4.4.2). 3.1.5 Section 4.5 of NPS EN-1 sets out the principles of good energy infrastructure design. Paragraph 4.5.4 indicates that a project Application should be able to demonstrate how the design process was conducted and how the proposed design evolved. Where multiple design options were considered, the Applicant should set out the reasons for the selection of chosen option. NPS EN-1 also highlights the importance of good design in terms of siting relative to the existing landscape character, landform and vegetation which the Applicant should demonstrate (paragraph 4.5.3). 3.1.6 Section 2.4 of NPS EN-3 indicates that renewable energy proposals should demonstrate good design in relation to landscape and visual amenity whilst also Rampion 2 PEIR. Volume 2, Chapter 3: Alternatives 5 © Wood Group UK Limited demonstrating how design has evolved to mitigate impacts such as noise and effects on ecology (paragraph 2.4.2). 3.1.7 NPS EN-3 also addresses the need for flexibility in the Application process for offshore wind NSIPs to allow for situations where full parameters of the project may be unknown at the time of submission (NPS EN-3, paragraph 2.6.43). In such instances, EN-3 recommends the use of the 'Rochdale Envelope' method which allows for the maximum adverse and positive scenario to be assessed in the EIA and a DCO granted on this basis (NPS EN-3, paragraph 2.6.43). 3.1.8 Section 127 of the NPPF sets out the design considerations helping decision- making for developments and indicates that developments: a) will function well and add to the overall quality of the area, not just for the short term but over the lifetime of the development; b) are visually attractive as a result of good architecture, layout and appropriate and effective landscaping; c) are sympathetic to local character and history, including the surrounding built environment and landscape setting, while not preventing or discouraging appropriate innovation or change (such as increased densities); d) establish or maintain a strong sense of place, using the arrangement of streets, spaces, building types and materials to create attractive, welcoming and distinctive places to live, work and visit; e) optimise the potential of the site to accommodate and sustain an appropriate amount and mix of development (including green and other public space) and support local facilities and transport networks; and f) create places that are safe, inclusive and accessible and which promote health and well-being, with a high standard of amenity for existing and future users; and where crime and disorder, and the fear of crime, do not undermine the quality of life or community cohesion and resilience. 3.1.9 The NPPF recommends early discussions between applicants, the relevant local planning authorities and local community, and consideration of the community’s point of view regarding the design and style of the emerging scheme (paragraph 128). 3.1.10 The Proposed Development takes into consideration the Design Principles for National Infrastructure (National Infrastructure Commission, 2020). This guidance identifies four principles to guide the planning and delivery of major infrastructure projects: climate, people, places and value. The National Infrastructure Commission’s Design Group developed the principles in consultation with all infrastructure sectors. They are intended to be applied to all economic infrastructure, including: digital communications, energy, transport, flood management, water and waste. As a renewable energy development, Rampion 2 follows the four principles of this guidance. Climate, people, places and value are considerations that have informed the design of the onshore offshore components of the Proposed Development. 3.1.11 Throughout the design development phase for the Proposed Development, prior to the publication of this Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR), full Rampion 2 PEIR. Volume 2, Chapter 3: Alternatives 6 © Wood Group UK Limited consideration has been given to reasonable alternatives. This is both for the technical engineering design