Annual Monitoring Report
Hinkley Point C
April 2018 – March 2019
Contents
Introduction 3 Background 4 Summary of Associated Development Work 2018-19 5
The Vision for the Project 6 Dillington Visions 6 The District’s Local Plan 7 Challenges 7
Mitigation Provided by S106 Agreements 10
Monitoring Mechanisms 10 The Transport Review Group 10 The Socio-Economic Advisory Group 11
Changes to the Project during 2018-19 14 The Project Implementation Plan 14
Requirements Discharged 2018-19 15
Progress Towards the Delivery of the Dillington Visions and Compliance with the Local Plan: 16 Accommodation 16 Community Well-being 20 Education, Employment and Skills 21 Economic Development 23
Conclusion 26
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Introduction
This annual monitoring report (AMR) monitors and evaluates activity associated with the development of the new nuclear power station at Hinkley Pont C (HPC), a nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP), with which Sedgemoor District Council (the Council) has involvement and influence. The report covers the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019.
The development at HPC presents a unique set of opportunities and challenges for the Council in monitoring and enforcing many of the development consent order (DCO) provisions, requirements and legal obligations. It is important that the management of HPC, which was consented under the Planning Act 2008, does not undermine the local planning process and its framework set by the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
The relationship between these two planning regimes must be dynamic to ensure that the Council can maximise the opportunities of HPC for the district, but also to respond to the challenges arising from the construction of a NSIP. The Council works hard to ensure that the management of HPC through the DCO does not occur in isolation, but that it takes into consideration the relevant local development plans for the district and county. The coordination of the two different planning regimes, shown in the diagram below, is essential to make and shape places where local people and businesses want to live and work, driving out a positive legacy from HPC for the future.
Diagram 1: the interaction between the PA2008 and TCPA regimes
Sedgemoor local plan: vision, policies, indicators, targets
Local plan review: annual Development implementation & monitoring reports, co-ordination: PA2008 and TCPA supplementary guidance regimes
HPC DCO & section 106 monitoring & implementation (requirements, obligations, mitigation and change management)
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Background
The two nuclear reactors currently under construction at HPC will develop the first new nuclear power station in the United Kingdom (UK) for over twenty years. The twin reactors should generate low carbon electricity for six million homes over a 60-year period from 2025. Although the power station is located the West Somerset Coast, a number of associated development sites that are sited predominately in Sedgemoor support its predicted ten-year construction:
• Cannington Bypass • Sedgemoor Campus (accommodation), Bath Road, Bridgwater. • Park and ride facilities at Cannington, M5 Junction 23 (J23) and Junction 24 (J24). • The redevelopment and extension of Combwich Wharf. • Various road improvements including those at Taunton Road/Broadway, Bristol Road/The Drove, The Drove/Wylds Road, Bristol Road/Wylds Road and the roundabout at M5 J23.
The former West Somerset District Council (now Somerset West and Taunton District Council) granted planning permission to NNB GenCo (EDF Energy) through the TCPA regime for site preparation works at Hinkley Point on 27 January 2012. Site preparation works concluded on 16 June 2016. The decision notice and section 106 legal agreement are available to view on Somerset West and Taunton Council’s (SWT) website using this link and quoting planning reference number: 3/32/10/037: https://www.westsomerset.gov.uk/online-applications/
The construction of the power station and the associated development were consented as a single NSIP through the Planning Act 2008 (PA2008) regime. Unlike the TCPA regime where the local planning authority (LPA) is the decision-making body, a planning application for a NSIPs is made to and then assessed by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the relevant Secretary of State (SoS). EDF Energy submitted an application to the Planning Inspectorate for the construction of HPC in October 2011. Following a six-month period of examination, during which the Council and many other stakeholders were consulted and made representation, the SoS granted a DCO on 19 March 2013. EDF Energy implemented the DCO in 2014 when the construction of the first associated development site (Cannington Bypass) began.
EDF Energy’s Board of Directors made the final investment decision (FID) on 28 July 2016, enabling the execution of all contracts and agreements required to begin the construction of HPC.
Following grant of development consent by the SoS, the Council, SWT and Somerset County Council (SCC) are responsible for discharging the relevant requirements contained in the DCO. They also carry out a monitoring and compliance role related to the provisions of the DCO and pursuant section 106 legal agreements. A copy of the DCO is available to view on the Planning Inspectorate’s website and a copy of each legal agreement is available to view on the Council’s website using these links: National Infrastructure Planning
Sedgemoor District Council Hinkley Point C
The construction and operation phases of HPC have the potential to deliver significant economic benefits to Sedgemoor and the local surrounding area. It is expected that a total number of 25,000 jobs will be created by HPC and it is estimated that the development could make a £1.5 billion contribution to the local economy during construction, and a further £40
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million contribution each year during operation.1 The Council and its partners therefore need to create and implement timely and robust strategies that ensure the potential significant economic benefits of HPC, to local communities and businesses in Sedgemoor, are fully realised.
Workforce numbers at the peak of construction are expected to be in the region of 5,600 people on site, one third of whom would be from the local population.2 The Council accepts that the percentage of local labour will vary across the implementation of the project depending on the skills required and that will continue to be developed and monitored through the HPC workforce development strategy.
There continues to be an inevitable and ongoing need to acquire labour from outside of the local area and the resultant influx of workers has put pressure on existing accommodation, transport and service provision. To date, the effects of the workforce increase have been mitigated satisfactorily through the HPC section 106 agreements. However, the delay to the FID for HPC has resulted in the timescale for the generation of energy from the first reactor (unit one) being reforecast from 2023 to 2025.
It is therefore vital that the Council and its partners, together with EDF Energy, carry out a range of agreed activity to ensure that the District is capable of supporting additional personnel without compromising the standard of living of the existing population or its attractiveness to investors and tourists. A summary of HPC associated development work 2018 – 2019 The Sedgemoor Campus opened on 22 February 2019 and provides temporary ‘modular’ accommodation for 986 HPC workers on a former derelict brownfield site in central Bridgwater. The individual housing units are constructed over 29, three-storey blocks that comprise 986 individual rooms, each with its own bathroom. The site also has a restaurant, gym, two bars, office space, outdoor sports pitches (for public use) and bus transport services. Together with the smaller Hinkley Campus that is located adjacent to the main HPC site, the campus facilities combined provide housing for 1,496 HPC workers. Local company ‘Host’ manage both campuses.
The Sedgemoor Campus forms part of the local plan housing allocation for a strategic urban extension to Bridgwater and has outline consent for permanent housing. Following the construction at HPC, the DCO requires that both campuses are dismantled, and the remaining infrastructure removed.
The highway improvement works at Bristol Road/ Wylds Road have not been undertaken and this is subject to ongoing discussions about need, design and implementation. A proposal from EDF Energy on how they plan to manage the delivery of this development has been submitted to the Council and its local authority partners (“the joint councils”) who have requested further information from EDF Energy to be able to make reasonable representation.
Construction work to complete the temporary jetty, for the importation of aggregate by sea to the main HPC site, is being undertaken and is scheduled for completion by September 2019.
1 Hinkley Point C Wider Benefits Realisation Plan, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, July 2018, p5 2 The estimated figure for the proportion of the workforce drawn from the local population at peak is taken from the HPC Accommodation Strategy 2011.
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The Vision for HPC The Dillington Visions While HPC was in the early stages of design, the joint councils and EDF Energy signed a planning performance agreement (PPA) in October 2009. The PPA, led by Sedgemoor District Council, encapsulated the collective overarching vision and objectives for the development and can be viewed at this link: Sedgemoor District Council Hinkley Point C .
These were refined as HPC began to take shape, to form the ‘Dillington Visions’. Reaching this consensus at such an early stage in the project has provided the joint councils with some influence over the way in which the project would later develop, helping to establish a positive legacy and reduce negative impacts. This has been critical to avoid ‘boom and bust’ and to invest in places, educational infrastructure, and the wider economy to sustain growth.
A summary of the Dillington Visions are set out below but can be viewed in full at this link: Sedgemoor District Council Hinkley Point C Accommodation Vision: To ensure that the HPC development provides housing solutions that enable workers and their families to integrate into the community and be economically active at a local level, whilst making a positive contribution to the Councils’ housing strategies and their wider strategic planning objectives. Partners will work to ensure that the development does not adversely impact on the availability or affordability of housing for the local community. Housing solutions will meet environmental and safety standards, and a housing legacy will be created that meets the needs of local people in a range of tenures that they can afford. Community wellbeing Vision: To generate community cohesion through the delivery of a comprehensive scheme of community wellbeing and safety measures, which take account of the needs of the local communities in Sedgemoor and Somerset as a whole, as well as the community wellbeing needs of the HPC workforce. Measures will be implemented to promote health and wellbeing, contribute toward high-quality leisure and religious facilities, and to minimise crime and disorder. The community will be involved in the design, development and delivery of facilities and services.
Education, employment, and skills Vision: To ensure that the HPC development maximises education, employment, and skills opportunities for local people, whilst inspiring young people to achieve and seek to follow careers in the science, technology, engineering and manufacturing sectors. To support our community partners to tackle unemployment or underemployment, by together creating pathways that provide opportunities for skilling, which leads to sustainable employment.
Economic development Vision: To ensure that the HPC development acts as a key driver for the achievement of a more dynamic, entrepreneurial, inclusive, and sustainable economy in Somerset and the wider region. An increase in highly skilled workers will support the growth of an emerging energy, environment, and related technology business cluster. The value of the natural environment will be recognised and Somerset’s positive image as a visitor and investment destination will be maintained.
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Developing a low carbon future Vision: To develop Somerset as a centre of excellence for low carbon use, with a strong business and educational reputation for low carbon and environmental technologies. The region will become a centre of excellence in flood management and will build on Somerset’s existing reputation for waste management by securing appropriate and modern management solutions for construction and radioactive waste from nuclear new build.
The District’s Local Plan In order for the HPC to provide a positive long-term legacy for the district, associated works must be aligned and integrated with the Sedgemoor Local Plan (adopted February 2019). A brief summary of the local plan is provided below but it can be viewed in full at this link: Sedgemoor District Council Local Plan
• Bridgwater will form a focal point for the districts housing, employment, and retail growth, followed by Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge and the districts most sustainable rural settlements. This will be achieved through a range of strategic allocations to deliver 13,530 homes and 75 hectares (ha) of employment land over the plan period (2011-2032). The development of brownfield sites will be encouraged wherever possible and the mix of housing types and tenures will be improved, particularly with regard to affordable housing. • Development in the smaller rural areas will be focused on meeting local housing and employments need, commensurate the level of local services necessary to support further development. The countryside will contribute to the overall prosperity of the District, while the landscape is conserved and enhanced. • A thriving and diverse local economy will be underpinned by a skilled local workforce and sustainable tourism will be a major source of local income and employment. • Key infrastructure necessary to support growth will be prioritised, including flood defence, transport, schools, and green infrastructure. This includes a strategic and long-term flood defence scheme for Bridgwater (the Bridgwater Barrier) which will become operational over the plan period, boosting investor confidence. • Income and health inequality will be reduced. Sports and leisure facilities will make a contribution towards the development of cohesive communities and green networks will provide a safe and convenient alternative to the car. Challenges
The Local Impact Report (2012) (LIR) was prepared by the joint councils and set out the predicted impacts of the development. The LIR was a key document for consideration by the Planning Inspectorate during the application for the DCO and informed the mitigation measures attached to the DCO. The report identified the following concerns:
• An increase in traffic congestion in and around Bridgwater as a consequence of the development, which may lead to negative perceptions of the area, affecting the tourism economy and town’s overall economic performance. • A lack of adequate walking and cycling paths could lead to considerable reliance on the car for transportation, adding to congestion. • The affordability and availability of housing options for local residents may be constrained by the influx of workers associated with the development. • The potential for displacement of workers from established local businesses as they join the HPC workforce, leading to staffing shortages in these businesses. This concern is potentially exacerbated by the relatively low level of unemployment in the District.
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• An insufficient level of skills within the local population (and insufficient resources directed to communities in deprived wards to help residents develop the prerequisites for such employment) could lead to a failure to capitalise on the potential for local employment associated with the development. • The development may negatively impact the character of the landscape, including Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). • Several of the associated developments (Sedgemoor Campus (accommodation) in Bridgwater and the park and ride facilities at M5 J23 are situated in locations at risk from flooding. • A failure to sufficiently integrate migrant workers into the local population may lead to reduced community cohesion and a potential increase in the night-time economy could lead to increased crime (or fear of crime).
The priorities for mitigation in 2018/19 take account of the evolving nature of the HPC project and identified the following additional concerns:
• New or materially different impacts that effect the environment and local communities potentially may arise because of the FID for HPC being delayed and resulting in the construction work for the project beginning later than originally assessed.
• The potential for an increase in local traffic congestion arising from two factors:
1. The potential for increased HGV movements along the A38 and A39 road network, due to the ongoing delay in the construction of the temporary jetty at the main HPC site and the continued need to import construction aggregate by road. 2. Planned highways schemes to be implemented within Bridgwater during 2018/19, which may adversely affect the operation of local businesses and investor confidence.
• The delay to the construction of campus accommodation within Bridgwater, arising from the need to get approval from the Secretary of State for proposed changes to the accommodation provision set out in the DCO, placed pressure on the private rental sector (PRS) that further adversely affected the availability and affordability of housing for local residents.
• Unemployment levels within the district are lower than was originally assessed in the HPC workforce development strategy and this may limit the proportion of the workforce that can be recruited locally, leading to an increase in non-home based workers seeking accommodation in the district or using the road networks to travel to work.
It is also worth noting that the HPC accommodation strategy (2011) assumed that the area over which both home-based and non-home-based construction HPC workers would live was considerably wider than has been shown in reality. Original estimates, based on typical journey times for workers in the south west, assumed that those already resident in the area (home based workers) would be prepared to travel up to 90 minutes to reach HPC main site and that non-home based workers would be prepared to travel up to 60 minutes. However, data from EDF’s bi-annual workforce survey has demonstrated that the workforce are concentrated in a significantly smaller geography in and around Bridgwater. As raised by the joint councils in the LIR, non-home-based workers do prefer to live closer to the HPC main site and the dedicated HPC bus stops, creating a greater demand for housing in Bridgwater than originally assessed. Given the delay to the construction of HPC and campus accommodation in Bridgewater and the emerging pattern of accommodation choices made by non-home-based workers, there is a need to update the HPC accommodation strategy.
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A report entitled ‘The Best Places in Britain for Women’ (2017) highlighted Sedgemoor as the one of the poorer places for females to live based on median annual income. The median hourly wage in Sedgemoor for women was less than half that of the top ranked local authority (Brentwood). Furthermore, the difference between median female and male incomes in the district was the third largest in Britain, with men’s income being 48% greater than the income for women.3 Mitigation provided by Section 106 Agreements EDF Energy are obligated to provide funding to mitigate potential negative impacts and maximise the opportunities that may arise from the development, through legal agreements known as section 106 agreements (s106 agreements). There are currently three extant s106 agreements, the first is pursuant to the TCPA permission for the HPC site preparation works; the second pursuant to the DCO for the construction and operation of HPC and the third pursuant to DCO for the temporary increase in HGV movements. The complete package of mitigation funding is extensive, totalling approximately £100 million pounds. All three legal agreements can be viewed in full using this link: Sedgemoor District Council Hinkley Point C
The mitigation of particular relevance to 2018/19 is set out below.
• A housing fund to support initiative in unlocking sites for development to increase housing capacity in areas surrounding HPC, thereby reducing the demand on the local housing market. The fund also includes a compensatory payment clause should the monthly average of non-home-based workers living in a particular ward exceed set thresholds for that ward. • A noise insulation scheme enabling residents to make noise reduction adaptations to the windows of their properties to mitigate any potential increase in traffic noise associated with construction HGV movements. • A contribution towards the maintenance of air quality in Bridgwater to mitigate any potential increase in polluting air emissions associated with construction HGV movements. • Funding to support the development of strategic flood defences for Bridgwater. • Funding to support initiatives enabling businesses to take advantage of the supply chain opportunities related to HPC and to mitigate any potential adverse effects on businesses in Bridgwater from traffic congestion associated with construction HGV movements. • A landscape fund ‘Greater Quantock Landscape Development Fund’ which is administered by the Quantock Hills AONB Service providing small grants, of up to £5000, to restore and develop local landscape and heritage features. • Funding towards the work carried out by Council officers in relation to delivering and managing the effects of HPC. • A community fund provides grants to local communities within a defined ‘area of benefit’ to mitigate any residual adverse effects from HPC that were not assessed and mitigated by the DCO or s106 agreements or to take advantage of the opportunities presented by HPC, with £500,000 of the £12.8 million pound total, ring fenced for projects within Otterhampton. Funding awards were initially managed by SW&T through the ‘Community Impact Mitigation Fund’ (CIM), which supported more than 50 community projects, until November 2017 when the funding and governance arrangements changed. The CIM was rebranded the ‘Community Fund’ and is now administered by the Somerset Community Foundation (SCF), with the first grants being awarded in the area of benefit from February 2018. The awards panel comprises representatives from the joint councils, EDF Energy, the SCF and includes three independent members. Further details about the fund can be found on the
3 Women’s Hour Report: The fest Places in Britain for Women’ (2017) NatCen
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SCF’s website at this link: Somerset Community Foundation - Hinkley Point C Community Fund Monitoring mechanisms The various financial and non-financial obligations contained within the s106 agreements are triggered at certain stages throughout the life of the construction project. To ensure that the s106 agreements are monitored and that triggers are not missed, the obligations have been captured and entered onto an electronic system. The system will automatically notify Council officers when trigger dates are approaching, with update reports run on a regular basis.
The s106 agreements contain obligations for two key monitoring and decision-making groups that are required to meet quarterly: Transport Review Group (TRG) and Socio-Economic Advisory Group (SEAG). There are also a range of other informal HPC related groups and forums that also meet regularly and provide more detailed monitoring of the project that is then reported to TRG and SEAG. The interrelationship between these groups and forums is shown in the diagram below.
Diagram 2: HPC groups and forums in 2018/19
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Transport Review Group TRG comprises representatives from the joint councils, Highways England and EDF Energy. The group’s purpose is to review the HPC travel plan, EDF Energy’s traffic management reports and, where appropriate, make recommendations to improve the implementation of the HPC construction workforce travel plan, and the HPC construction traffic management plan (CTMP).
In accordance with the HPC traffic assessment that was submitted as part of the DCO Examination, construction HGVs must follow one of two designated routes and travel between permitted hours only. Any breach of designated HGV routes or hours of delivery are confirmed and recorded by EDF Energy using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) data and site records, which are then presented in quarterly traffic management reports at TRG. If drivers are found to be in breach of the designated routes or permitted hours, EDF Energy issue them with a ‘strike’ against their continued employment on the project. Drivers who receive three strikes are no longer permitted to be part of HPC workforce again. All monitoring reports and TRG decisions can be found on the Council’s website at this link: Transport-Review-Group
For 2018/19, the number of construction HGV movements remains at the temporary increased quarterly daily average of 750 two-way movements (375 one-way). This increase from a quarterly daily average of 500 two-way movements (250 one-way) was approved through a revision to the CTMP by TRG and is detailed in the 2017/18 AMR report. The temporary increase in quarterly daily average movements does not change the maximum permitted daily limit of 750 two-way movements (375 one-way), or the number of HGVs on the road network at peak times. The approved temporary quarterly limit will apply until the HPC jetty is operational, thereby enabling construction aggregate to be imported by sea, or no later than 30 September 2019.
The joint councils were successful in securing a substantial mitigation package to minimise any potential adverse effects from the temporary HGV increase, through a second section 106 agreement to the DCO, which totalled in excess of 4 million pounds. The mitigation secured has been invested to help reduce traffic congestion and improve highway safety in and around Bridgwater, and to provide environmental, health and accessibility benefits for local communities. A summary of the financial mitigation invested in Sedgemoor during 2018/19 is provided below:
• The extension of the HGV noise insulation scheme for residential dwellings and commercial businesses, until 30 September 2019, from the A39 south of Cannington along the two designated HPC HGV routes through Bridgwater to M5 J23 and J24. • £2.3 million pound contribution towards the Colley Lane, Bridgwater southern access road, including improved walking and cycling infrastructure. • £155,000 contribution towards additional variable highway messaging signs in Bridgwater. • £99,000 each year, until September 2019, towards the business fund and air quality monitoring operating in Sedgemoor. • £50,000 each year, until 30 September 2019, towards a transport officer employed the Council. • £7000 each year, until 30 September 2019, towards additional highway cleaning along the designated HGV routes.
EDF Energy’s traffic management reports for 2018/19 have indicated that quarterly daily average HGV movements have not yet breached 500 to adversely impact traffic congestion or highways safety.
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Socio Economic Advisory Group SEAG comprises representatives from the joint councils, Highways England, Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue, the Primary Care Trust and EDF Energy. SEAG monitors a set of key performance indicators (relating to accommodation, tourism, HPC supply chain, health and community safety) which are used to report to government, stakeholders and investors about the construction and legacy of HPC. Given the delay to the construction of HPC, there is a need to review the key performance indicators, which were established in 2016. The Council wishes to ensure that the indicators are fit-for- purpose and that the data provided to SEAG is sufficiently consistent and detailed to fully understand the project, thereby ensuring that the impacts of constructing HPC are minimised and the opportunities for a sustainable legacy are maximised.
Accommodation: indicators include the average private rental sector (PRS) take up for specific areas by non-home based workers and the types of accommodation they are residing in; the number of non-home based workers commuting from each of the three districts (Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton and North Somerset) and the proportion of workers that are home based. In April 2018, EDF Energy reported that the number of HPC workers on site was 2,870. Using data from the HPC workforce survey, it was estimated that 55% of these workers were non-home based so had moved to the local area to work at HPC. This trend in non-home-based workers was expected and accords with the HPC accommodation strategy. The number of non-home-based workers who live in Sedgemoor has risen in overall number by 55% from 556 to 1010. This number and concentration demonstrates that the geographical spread of workers living within the assessed 60-minute commuting zone that formed a key assumption of the HPC accommodation strategy was not correct. The unanticipated geographical concentration of non-home-based workers combined with an increase in workforce numbers and a significant delay in the opening of the Sedgemoor Campus has put additional pressure on the demand for PRS housing.
If HPC workforce survey data demonstrates that the number of non-home based HPC workers in PRS accommodation exceeds geographical ward thresholds, as set in the HPC accommodation strategy, EDF Energy are required to make a housing contingency payment to the district concerned. In July 2017, EDF Energy paid the Council £440, 000 for a breach of threshold for non-home-based workers living in PRS accommodation in the ward of Cannington. The Council used this payment in 2018/2019 to help mitigate the concentration of HPC workers living in and around Bridgewater by regenerating stalled brownfield sites to deliver permanent and housing solutions, including affordable housing, which accords with the wider strategic objectives of the development plan.
In subsequent HPC workforce surveys for 2018/2019, EDF Energy reinterpreted the definition of ‘latent’ accommodation, defined by the HPC accommodation strategy as ‘accommodation not currently offered to the market’ to include all new PRS housing, and the percentages applied to the monitoring data supplied to SEAG. This change in definition remains disputed by the Council, who are concerned that it could potentially under-estimate the effects of non- home based HPC workers on the local housing market.
In 2018/2019, EDF Energy introduced a ‘five-day rule’ method for monitoring the number of workers on site. This rule defines a ‘worker’ as someone whose place of employment is exclusively on the main site and for a period exceeding three months. The person must also have been fully inducted so that they are in possession of an HPC site pass, be on-site for a minimum of five days within any 30-day working period and for a minimum of 8 hours each day. All EDF Energy employees or other personnel working on the HPC main site who do not meet these criteria are not included in the reported number of workers on site. EDF Energy employees or those personnel associated with the project and working at associated development sites are also not included in the reported HPC workforce numbers
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The Council has agreed that this is ‘one’ metric but not the only metric to quantify the total daily number of HPC workers. To monitor accurately the worst-case assumption of approximately 5600 daily workers on site at peak construction, the Council has requested that EDF Energy provide actual figures on a six monthly basis to test the five-day rule assumptions and to understand more about the complete workforce profile, including those workers who do not meet the criteria under the five day rule.
In 2018/19, EDF Energy introduced a definition of a ‘visitor’ to the HPC site, which the Council are concerned that alongside the rigid five-day rule may further reduce daily workforce numbers reported during construction. The Council has recommended that EDF Energy reconsider this definition to avoid confusion between genuine visitors to the HPC site and visiting contractors/managers who are actively engaged in project delivery. The maximise number of people on site in any one day remains unknown.
Tourism: indicators measuring the number of visitors recommending Somerset and Exmoor, the increase of hits on digital channels and the confidence of tourism businesses. In February 2019, tourism performance remains positive with growth in both business confidence and digital channel use for Somerset and Exmoor as a whole. The Hinkley Tourism Action Partnership (HTAP) continues to provide resilience and mitigation for any potential adverse effects from HPC and has updated the tourism strategy and action plan for 2018/2019. There have been no measurable effects from HPC on the tourism sector in Sedgemoor, Somerset or Exmoor. The quarterly Somerset and Exmoor Business survey has shown that business confidence in the next 12 months remains steady at 46%, compared to a baseline of 35% when the survey was first reported in December 2016. A copy of the refreshed strategic action plan can be viewed at this link: Hinkley Tourism Strategy 2015-20
Supply Chain: indicators including the number of local and regional suppliers registered with HPC and the amount of office and warehouse space taken up are recorded. The data shows that the number of suppliers registered with HPC within Sedgemoor totalled 659 by February 2019. Registration with HPC as a supplier does not guarantee a contract for that company but the figure does indicate that there are a considerable number of Sedgemoor based companies that EDF Energy or its contractors would consider giving work. However, there remains scope for improvement and Sedgemoor officers are working with the Hinkley supply chain team to help businesses better prepare for working on the project and to bring them to the attention of companies already working on site. More information on the HPC supply chain is available on the EDF Energy website at this link: Hinkley Supply Chain
Community Safety: indicators relate to engagement with the local community, crime, fire and road safety incidents. The Hinkley Community Safety Group manages community safety through a multi-agency partnership, comprising members who are involved in public safety, community wellbeing, and crime and disorder. EDF also play an active role in this group. The group meets quarterly to monitor crime and disorder across areas of Sedgemoor and West Somerset, reporting against a set of key performance indicators. For 2018/19, the group has seen an increase in crime and non-crime with 155 crimes and 62 non-crimes recorded. Devon and Somerset Fire Rescue service have recorded eight incidents directly related to the HPC workers.
Health: indicators include the number of health care staff on site; the number of drug and alcohol checks among staff; the number of private prescriptions, x-rays and physiotherapy referrals and the number of callouts to the southwest ambulance service. The Council is not involved in supplying or reviewing any of the data, supplied by EDF Energy, to inform the indicators relating to health. However, the Council is a member of the Somerset Health Task and Finish Group that carries out work related to the reported data. This work in 2018/19 has
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included health promotion campaigns to promote awareness for sexual health, drug and alcohol abuse, back health, cancer and mental health among HPC employees.
All monitoring reports and SEAG decisions can be found on the Council’s website at this link: Socio-Economic-Advisory-Group Changes to the project during 2018/19 By their very nature, NSIPs are vulnerable to uncertainty and change, so it is not unexpected that changes to the DCO for HPC have been made. Since the DCO was first approved in 2013, EDF Energy have made three non-material amendment applications to the Secretary of State, which have been approved. The last non-material amendment order was published on 23 March 2018 and all are detailed in previous AMRs. The Council has developed a change management protocol as part of its enforcement strategy. The use of the protocol by EDF Energy has not yet been consistent enough to monitor.
There have been no material or non-material change applications made in 2018/19. HPC implementation plan for 2018/19 EDF Energy are required to keep Councils informed of the progress made towards completing the associated developments through the submission of quarterly updates to the implementation plan for these works. The table below provides an update on the implementation of the HPC construction project for 2018/19.
Table 1: HPC project implementation 2018/2019
Scheme Indicative Implementation EDF Energy Actual duration schedule plan duration highways duration (Inclusive of scheme contingency) summary Cannington 21 months 22 months 13 months bypass Bridgwater A 19 months 24 months 19 months 18 months accommodation (partial) 29 (partial) / 35 Campus months (full) months (full) Bridgwater C 13 months 16 months Not being built n/a accommodation – DCO Campus amended by SoS to remove this part of the consented development Hinkley Campus 16 months 19 months 25 months 15 months (on site) J23 park and ride 17 months 21 months 13 months 18 months J24 park and ride 7 months 8 months 4 months Cannington park 10 months 13 months 12 months 12 months and ride Combwich Wharf 13 months 15 months 21 months Not yet commenced
Combwich Wharf 16 months 18 months 21 months Not planned to be freight laydown constructed in facility accordance with the DCO. TCPA application submitted on 27 March 2019 for the construction of a
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temporary laydown area for abnormal indivisible loads on land adjacent to Combwich Wharf, until 2028. The proposal represents a significant reduction in the size of the facility consented by the DCO and is accompanied by the Council’s DCO change management form. Temporary jetty 15 months 21 months 16 months 26 months
Highway Improvements M5 J23 4.5 months 6 months 5 months 4 months A38 Bristol 1.5 months 2.5 months 2 months 6 months Road/The Drove Junction A38 Bristol 3 months 4 months 22 months Not yet commenced Road/Wylds Road Wylds Road/The 4 months 5 months 8 months 6 months Drove
Requirements discharged in 2018/19 When an application is made by EDF Energy to discharge a DCO requirement, a fee is paid to the Council. The table below provides details of the fees received to date from the implementation of the DCO in 2014.
Table 2: DCO planning fees
Financial year Annual total (£) 2013/2014 9,395 2014/2015 930 2015/2016 85 2016/2017 930 2017/2018 5,347 2018/2019 2,705
The DCO contains eighty pre-commencement requirements that EDF Energy need the Council to discharge for the construction of HPC. Applications to discharge requirements are usually preceded by the Council providing EDF Energy with pre-application advice. The Council is also consulted by SCC on three other ‘project wide’ highway related DCO requirements.
From 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019, the Council received ten requests for pre-application advice and 24 requests for the formal discharge of a requirement (or amendments to the discharge of requirements previously approved) from EDF Energy. The majority of these applications related to the M5 J23 and Cannington park and ride sites, and to enable the redevelopment of Combwich Wharf.
A full list of requirements discharged during this period is listed in the appendix to this report.
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Progress towards the delivery of the Dillington Visions and compliance with the Local Plan Accommodation Use of the section 106 housing fund The s106 agreement pursuant to the TCPA permission for HPC site preparation works split the financial obligation for housing contribution 68:32 and accordingly, the Council received £2,840,000. The s106 agreement pursuant to the DCO provided for a financial obligation for a contribution to a ‘housing fund’ of £3,500,000 with effect from the 16 June 2016 (the transitional date that EDF Energy moved on site to begin constructing HPC). A total of £1,000,000 from the housing fund was paid directly to the Council for housing initiatives within the district.
The target number of bed spaces created by the Council from the TCPA s106 agreement housing contribution, during the period 1 April 2015 – 31 March 2017, was set at 329. The Council met and exceeded this target through a range of successful initiatives, detailed in the previous AMR 2017/18 that it has built upon when investing the DCO s106 housing fund monies.
• Empty homes grant (this includes living over a shop): properties are leased for a minimum period of seven years, with an option to extend the lease at the end of the term. During the lease period, intensive support is offered thereby ensuring tenancy sustainment. • Minor improvement grant stimulates new supply and improves standards of accommodation in the PRS. • Lodgings scheme – rent a room enables rooms to be brought into use to agreed lettings standard. • Flexible rent support enables people to access the PRS, securing bed spaces through covering deposits or payment of rent in advance of occupancy.
The Council forecasts that by March 2020, it will have invested just over £1.7 million from the housing fund, which will result in a total £26.25 million investment in new build housing and area regeneration. The £1.7 million investment by the Council will bringing together an enabling portfolio of nine housing development projects, made up of largely challenging brownfield sites in Bridgwater (and one in Highbridge) that for every £1 spent from the housing fund will leverage a further £15.38 from the housing supply chain. The housing fund investment (at a cost of £2,678 per bed-space) will see 638 new bed-spaces completed or 179 new homes, of which 154 are affordable homes. This approach fully accords with the policies of the local plan.
Table 3: Housing enabling projects 2018/19 Site Site details Total bed Number of HPC Total Status in location prior to spaces affordable housing investment March funding bed space fund 2019 investment £ Westgate Long term 24 9 120,000 200,000 Completed House, unused Bridgwater brownfield town centre site. High risk of stalling. Former Brownfield, 88 20 364,000 3,126,000 Completed Black derelict, stalled and
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Site Site details Total bed Number of HPC Total Status in location prior to spaces affordable housing investment March funding bed space fund 2019 investment £ Horse Inn, suffering Bridgwater anti-social behaviour. Withycutter, Brownfield, 33 9 80,000 1, 115,000 Completed Bridgwater stalled, derelict, anti-social behaviour Stockmoor Brownfield, 78 18 280,000 3,072,667 Completed Village stalled, at Centre, the centre of Bridgwater a large residential area Former Brownfield, 34 23 119,000 4,600,000 Completed Highbridge stalled, Hotel, Former fire Highbridge damaged hotel, derelict, stalled and suffering anti-social behaviour for >15 years.
The housing fund has also been used to assist those looking for accommodation through the online search engine service ‘Somerset Home let’. Landlord training and a tenant support scheme have also received support to help improve the relationship between landlords and tenants, with the aim of improving the experience of renting in the PRS and reducing the likelihood of eviction for vulnerable tenants. The use of caravan site accommodation EDF Energy seeking a non-material amendment to the DCO in 2017 to remove the requirement to build the Bridgwater C campus delayed the delivery of campus accommodation. The NMA also delayed the delivery of the Bridgwater A campus, which put further pressure on the local housing market. The Council took a proactive approach to this temporary shortfall in the supply of accommodation and change to the assumptions of HPC’s accommodation strategy by removing restrictions on suitable caravan parks, to permit HPC workers to live in them all year, for a two-year period. In April 2017, the Council approved operational guidance to set out specifically the circumstances for considering the temporary use of appropriate tourist accommodation by HPC works, effectively providing a bridge between the PA2008 DCO and TCPA regimes.
The approved sites have created 1000 bed spaces at a variety of carefully selected sites that avoided key tourist locations. Opening up certain sites to year-round use has provided additional income for park owners and the opportunity to invest in their sites to increase future business. The demand for the continued use of the approved caravan sites is being monitored and consideration is being given to reviewing the operational guidance should this need for temporary accommodation continue.
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Table 3: Caravan sites granted temporary consent for year-round occupancy by HPC workers
Location Proposal No of Planning units permission expires Flitchetts Farm, Variation of condition 6 of planning permission: 20 05/04/2018 Stawell Road, 46/14/00004 to allow a maximum of 20 Bridgwater caravans and all year-round use.
An application (planning reference: 49/19/0004 has been received by the Council for the continued use of the site all year for a further three-year period, until 2022. Lower Lakes, Chilton Temporary change of use of land to allow 17 05/05/2019 Trinity, Bridgwater usage of accommodation by HPC contractors. Land at Holmwood Variation of Condition 4 of planning permission: 100 06/06/2019 Farm, North Newton, 37/14/00048 to allow the accommodation to be Bridgwater occupied by the same person/s all year round to allow usage of accommodation by HPC contractors. Somerset View Temporary change of use of tourist caravan 84 06/06/2019 Caravan Park, North park as accommodation for Hinkley Point Petherton workers Fairways Caravan Variation of Condition 3 of planning permission: 155 04/07/2019 Park, Bawdrip, 04/11/00007 (Change of use of field from Bridgwater touring caravans to static caravans, relocation of manager's accommodation and formation of pavement between service station and site entrance) to allow for the accommodation of HPC workers. Fairways Caravan Variation of Condition 1 of planning permission: As above 04/07/2019 Park, Bawdrip, 04/08/00002 (Variation of condition 2 of Bridgwater Planning Permission 1/04/90/14 to allow the caravan site to remain open for 12 months every year) to allow for the accommodation of HPC workers. Mill Farm, Variation of Conditions 3 & 4 of planning 52 08/08/2019 Fiddington, permission 28/96/00002 to regularise the Bridgwater established number of pitches and to allow for part of the site (Home Meadow) to be used by HPC workers, for a temporary period of up to two years. New House Farm, Temporary change of use, for a period of 2 87 31/08/2019 Walrow, years, of caravan site to allow for the Highbridge accommodation of HPC workers. Edithmead Leisure Temporary change of use, for a period of 2 245 15/12/2019 and Park Homes, years, of caravan site to allow for the Edithmead, accommodation of HPC workers. Highbridge Edithmead Caravan Change of use of land to create a caravan site 124 15/12/2019 Park, Edithmead, of 124 pitches (74no. static and 50no. touring) Highbridge for holiday use and as accommodation for HPC workers and erection of a shop and various landscaping works Inwood Farm, Nether Variation of Condition 4 of Planning Permission 92 05/09/2019 Stowey, Bridgwater 36/14/00011 (Change of use of land from agricultural to camping and touring caravan site) to allow for the temporary use of caravan
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Location Proposal No of Planning units permission expires site as accommodation for HPC workers workers. Wall Eden Farm, Temporary change of use of land to allow for 18 31/08/2019 East Huntspill, the accommodation of Hinkley Point Workers Highbridge (8no. log cabins, 9no. pod cabins and 1no. yurt). Somerset View Change of use of land to form a touring caravan 18 19/09/2019 Caravan Park, North site, with the temporary use as accommodation Petherton, for HPC workers. Bridgwater Inwood Farm, Nether Erection of welfare building to incorporate 32 05/09/2019 Stowey, Bridgwater shower facilities, gym, recreation room and site office. Siting of 32 static caravans within area consented for touring caravans.
Hotel accommodation A number of TCPA applications for hotel development and extensions were granted in 2017/18. These applications were market driven by HPC but were not anticipated in the HPC accommodation strategy but do have an indirect positive affect for business and tourist visitors to the area. A table listing applications granted planning permission is shown below but it is not expected that all planning permissions will be implemented. Since the grant of planning permission, there has been a first mover advantage by those currently being constructed or that are operational.
Table 4: Land with planning permission for new hotel use in 2018/19
Location Number of rooms Mercure, Eastover, Bridgwater 119 – operational Holiday Inn Express, Regional Rural Business 138 – under construction Centre, North Petherton Compass House, North Petherton 100 – under construction Woodlands Business Park, Bridgwater 123 – under construction Premier Inn, Bridgwater Gateway, North Petherton 150 – under construction Mansion House Inn, Bridgwater 21 Former Hospital, Bridgwater 100 Travelodge, Isleport, Highbridge 75 - operational
Applications for extensions to existing hotels were also granted and have been implemented in 2018/19 at Blackmore Farm (Cannington), Bower Inn (Bridgwater), Premier Inn (Bridgwater) and The Admiral’s Table (Bridgwater). Other forms of accommodation A number of TCPAs for permanent housing were received during 2018/2019, with the 2017/18 trend continuing for change of use applications to convert single dwelling houses to multiple occupancy (HMOs). All applications for permanent housing will help to increase housing capacity and the mix of housing options in the district, both in response to the construction of HPC and as part of planned growth. However, the rise of HMOs was not anticipated by the HPC accommodation strategy and each application for this type of use is carefully considered against the policies of the local plan to ensure that any adverse effects to local amenity are avoided, reduced or appropriately mitigated.
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Environmental health and safety of accommodation Due to the ongoing increase in the number of properties that have been converted into HMOs, the Council is undertaking an exercise to identify and contact the owners to inform them of their duties as landlords. The Council would also like to inspect these properties and, if necessary, require, the landlords to apply for an HMO licence. Larger HMOs with five or more occupants that form two or more households and share facilities, such as a kitchen and/or bathroom, must be licenced by the Council. Inspections are carried out to ensure that licensable HMOs are compliant with the mandatory conditions set out within their licence and Government legislation.
As part of the mitigation for the temporary increase in quarterly average of HGV movements, the area in which residents are eligible for support from the transport noise insulation scheme has been extended. The scheme now includes housing along the two HGV routes through Bridgwater to M5 J23 and J24.
EDF Energy have made a number of payments to the Council to support the creation of the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier, which will provide long-term protection against flooding. By reducing the risk of flooding, the creation of the Bridgwater Barrier will improve the suitability of large areas of Bridgwater for accommodation and commercial development. Community Wellbeing Appointment of a community safety officer The Council funds a community safety officer through the s106 agreement, and they help to build positive relationships with the local community and HPC workforce. In 2018/19 this included a range of initiatives and liaison with EDF Energy and stakeholders to:
• Reduce noise nuisance and litter associated with shift work • Prevent anti-social behaviour, such as littering and fly-parking • Ensure health and safety standards at caravan parks that are used by the HPC workforce as temporary accommodation. • Organise events and activities in areas where HPC workers and their families are living to help facilitate their integration with the local community. • Reduce fly parking. Fly parking remains the single biggest complaint area. EDF Energy are working well to monitor and take action against unauthorised parking and a three-stage process is now enforced, with any repeat offenders losing their site pass and right to work on the project. Projects supporting community cohesion and reducing inequality
The Council led ‘East Bridgwater Together team’ project was awarded £60,000 from the CIM fund in 2015 and continues to provide a multi-agency support to help build a stronger sense of community. They do this through two strands of work: case management and community development. The aim of the team is to provide a single point of access for individuals and the local community to access support to reduce crime, anti-social behaviour and financial hardship whilst improving quality of life, access to work opportunities, volunteering and training. There are two other ‘Together Teams’ in Sedgemoor – one covering Hamp, Stockmoor and Wilstock and the other covering Highbridge and Burnham on Sea.
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Health and leisure facilities Following a successful bid by the Council for CIM funding, have begun on the first of three schemes to improve gaps in walking and cycling infrastructure in south Bridgwater and North Petherton. These works are expected to take place in Summer 2019, following a successful bid to the CIM fund. The southern corridor into Bridgwater along Taunton Road is currently the key route for HPC traffic, one of the two designated routes for HGVs and buses traveling from the J24 Park and Ride. However, the current cycleway and footpath network is fragmented and of mixed quality, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists who do not wish to use the A38, reducing its viability as an alternative to car use. By helping to reduce car use, the improvements will reduce traffic congestion and air pollution and provide a means of promoting health through exercise.
The HPC sports facilities management strategy requires that a level of public access to the sports and leisure facilities at the Sedgemoor campus are made available to the public. The sports and leisure facilities at the campus are available to the public on a “first come first served basis” from 13:00 to 14:00 and 19:00 to 21:00 Monday to Friday and 14:00 to 17:00 Saturday and Sunday. The facilities include a full-size grass football pitch, 2 polymeric surface multi use games courts, suitable for 5-aside football, basketball and tennis courts and an amenity building with toilets. The Council would be supportive of the provision of floodlighting to enable the sports pitches to be used by the public in the evenings. Community information A number of activities have provided the opportunity for the local community to be informed of the decision-making process and the implementation of activities associated with the HPC projects. EDF Energy have established forums for wider public and stakeholder engagement, with meetings independently chaired and comprising representations from town and parish councils. All meetings are open to the public and quarterly meeting minutes are available on the EDF Energy website at this link: EDF Energy Download Centre
All applications to the Council from EDF Energy for the discharge all DCO requirements are made publicly available on the Council’s external website ‘Planning Online’. Councillors and parish/town clerks are notified of the receipt of all applications for information purposes. Planning Online can be accessed at this link: Sedgemoor District Council Planning Online Education, Employment and Skills Training facilities The Council has granted planning permission for a number of education and training facilities in the district, which will facilitate investment and secure a positive legacy. These facilities are dedicated to developing the skills required for careers in the energy sector and wider construction and engineering sectors. They will enable local people to access well- paid and secure employment that will potentially reduce the out-migration of young adults from the district to study and work.
The most recent education facility to open in February 2018 is The National College for Nuclear (NCfN) that is located at the Bridgwater and Taunton College site in Cannington. The NCfN is one of only two such facilities that will be located in the UK – the NCfN will be located in Cumbria. The NCfN represents a unique partnership between industry, national regulators, skills bodies and training providers that is intended to contribute towards addressing the national skills shortage for nuclear related skills. The NCfN is at the forefront of changing the way that training for the nuclear sector is delivered, while ensuring that the UK maintains its enviable global reputation for quality, safe and reliable civil and defence operations, underpinned by a stringent regulatory regime and an expert workforce.
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The NCfN building has been awarded building research establishment environmental assessment method (BREEAM) ‘excellence’ rating, in recognition of the high standard of environmental, social and economic sustainability that underpins the construction and operational lifecycle of the development. Under Construction The Council and its partners have established an employment and skills centre within the district, known as ‘Under Construction’, which opened in April 2017. Funding from the HPC s106 agreement has been used to rent office space and provide dedicated officer support from the Council. Under Construction brings together a range of organisations, including training providers, the National Careers Service (Prospects) and PLUSS (Positive People Project for Unemployed) in a non-branded facility, which serves to remove the barriers that some individuals may perceive when wishing to access employment support.
The centre has proved popular during its first year of operation, recording a footfall of 6190 visits and 1905 followers on social media. The centre has carried out 149 events, related to training and employment; supported 962 learners and 2005 jobs have been advertised.
Under Construction has achieved notable success in supporting the long-term unemployed back to work, helping to place 63 individuals into employment with a 100% retention rate. This has been achieved specifically through one-to-one coaching, skills training, sector- based work academies, work experience and in-work support for a six-month period.
There has been a renewed and continued effort to use HPC as a catalyst to encourage young females into science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects, through the ‘Inspire’ programme and the ‘Young HPC’ project, as well as encouraging women into construction through targeted recruitment. Female gender specific recruitment has been included in the EDF Energy workforce development strategy and in partnership with Under Construction.
Under Construction is currently developing an approach specifically targeted to support women furthest from the employment market and those who are under employed. Other employment and skills initiatives The Council seeks to enter into a local labour agreement (LLA) with developers of projects which will provide ten or more jobs or where construction values will exceed £1 million, to agree a percentage of local labour, a training and recruitment plan and a commitment to an agreed proportion of local procurement of services and supplies. It was the first local authority in Somerset to adopt such an approach has been applied to both the construction and operational phases of the HPC, delivering meaningful opportunities for economic growth and employment legacy to the local community. Business unrelated to HPC Sedgemoor is an area of relatively low unemployment, so there is a sensitivity at the Council to the possibility of a significant proportion of the local labour force to be drawn into HPC leaving some local businesses short staffed. Under Construction offers support to businesses affected by helping to place those looking for work in these companies (as well as vacancies at HPC) to backfill vacancies that have been created by HPC employment opportunities. In addition, the Under Construction works closely with Bridgwater and Taunton College to promote apprenticeships and courses in order to improve the range and level of skills available to businesses.
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Economic Development Business parks In accordance with the previous annual monitoring report for 2017/18, the Council recognises the value of releasing a considerable amount of land for commercial development. The intention was for business parks to serve as suitable space for the location and expansion of businesses associated with the HPC supply chain.
• The first of these business parks is the Bridgwater Gateway, a 45.5-ha mixed-use commercial development that is located at junction 24 of the M5. To date, a Premier Inn hotel is completed and work has started speculatively on five industrial units. Future development plans for the site include retail, office and further hotel development. • Work is planned for a new access road to ‘Gravity’, a 257-ha site that has Enterprise Zone status, which will connect the business park to the M5 at junction 23. Future development plans for the site will focus on businesses that specialise in low carbon technology and energy generation, building on the skills legacy from the construction and operation of HPC. • A second Somerset Energy and Innovation Centre (SEIC), located on the Woodlands Court Business Park, is completed and now waiting the appointment of an operator to manage the 2,000 square metre (m2) space. Work has also begun on a third SEIC that will deliver a further 1,000 m2 of land for commercial development that can also be used to support the HPC supply chain and build a long-term skills legacy. Bridgwater town centre improvements
Community impact mitigation (CIM) funding bolstered by £120,000 from the HPC section 106 legal agreement ‘cost of congestion’ funds has delivered a range of projects including:
• BIRTS – Bridgwater independent retailers training and support. • Physical enhancements at Fore Street and High Street, including the lighting of the Town Bridge, in areas that act as a focal point for the small business community as well as the wider town centre. • Supporting events, including a new festival ‘Quayside’. • Signposting the town centre from the England Coast Path, the longest managed and waymarked coastal path in the world, and the publication of an associated walking guide. Initiatives for business Local businesses in Sedgemoor continue to be helped to maximise the opportunities provided by HPC through a range of support packages that are funded through s106 agreement contributions. Among the main ways these local businesses have benefited in 2018/19 are: Supply chain • Twelve grants of up to £5,000 have been paid to small businesses who are working or hoping to work on HPC related contracts. This money purchases equipment and supports relevant training and accreditation. Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce • Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce has been supported financially in running a ‘supply the supplier’ initiative to assist local businesses to get involved with the indirect HPC supply chain. The Chamber also organises regular networking events, business awards and communications to raise awareness and maximise the business opportunities at HPC supply chain.
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HGV affected businesses fund • EDF Energy agreed to a new financial mitigation package following their request to increase daily HGV movements to and from site for a temporary period of 18 months. A grant scheme was devised and advertised to local businesses, who could demonstrate that their trade was adversely affected by the increased volume of HGV’s on the network. Applications are currently being processed and one grant has been awarded. Nuclear South West • Funding is being used to provide a dedicated officer to manage inward investment enquiries and for an inward investment marketing campaign, that supports the Nuclear South West partnership of the local enterprise partnership areas, ‘Heart of the South West’, ‘West of England’ and ‘Gloucestershire First’. Business mentoring • Continued investment in ‘Cornerstone Mentoring’, the countrywide mentoring scheme that provides free support for local businesses looking to establish and grow.
CIM funded projects for 2018/2019 Burnham Evolution Supported by the Council, Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge Town Council were successful in securing £350,000 from the CIM fund for the ‘Burnham Evolution’, a regeneration project that seeks to enable the community to minimise the impacts and maximise the benefits of being a rural, coastal community adjacent to a NSIP. As the project names suggests, the approach to the evolution of Burnham-on-Sea is to use the funding to revitalise its seaside and community assets, thereby increasing its resilience as a year-round destination for inhabitants and visitors alike. Cheddar Community Pavilion Supported by the Council, Cheddar Parish Council were successful in securing £320,000 from the CIM fund for improving and enlarging the existing sports pavilion at the village playing fields .The aim of this expansion was to increase the range of activities available and in doing so make it a more inclusive and attractive space for the community and visitors alike. The Hinkley Tourism Action Partnership Tourism is a key sector in Somerset’s economy, employing 9% of the working population.4 The Hinkley Tourism Action Partnership (HTAP) is continuing to deliver growth and resilience to the tourism sector through its strategic 18-month action plan that was updated for a third time in 2018. The strategy is based around four main objectives for 2018 – 2020:
• ‘Generating positive perceptions’ – a public relations campaign that will strive to counteract any negative press coverage relating to the construction of HPC, that may otherwise detract from its draw as a tourist destination. The increased finances available as a result of the S106 agreement will enable HTAP to expand the customer base by employing a more targeted approach to marketing than has been possible in the past.
• ‘Delivering an exceptional welcome’ – building on work carried out in the previous three years, HTAP will work with Somerset Highways to gain a better understanding of the needs of large tourism operators in terms of dealing with traffic congestion. Visitor surveys will include questions specifically related to travel
4 Hinkley Tourism Strategy 2015-20 (Refreshed for 2018) p 4
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movements and HPC to enable a better understanding of the impact of the development. HTAP will continue to support Tourist Information Centres, helping them to develop new avenues of income to ensure their viability when S106 funding is no longer available.
• ‘Developing new experiences’ – in recent years, ‘experimental’ short breaks with a particular theme, such as wildlife, cycling and glamping have become increasing popular. Although Somerset and Exmoor have the landscape to support such experiences, they do not yet have the supporting infrastructure, such as cycle routes, to realise the potential of these areas. CIM funding, relating to the Brean Down Way and Steam Coast Trail have helped to enhance this infrastructure. EDF ENERGY’s intention to build a ‘state of the art’ visitor centre will create a unique attraction which is likely to draw in new types of visitor and HTAP have identified this as an opportunity for distinctiveness. HTAP will continue to seek opportunities to use S106 funding to derive additional financial benefits through match funding.
• ‘Supporting industry growth’ – following reductions in local authority funding in recent years, it has become increasingly important that industry bodies, such as Visit Somerset and Visit Exmoor, take a lead role in helping to grow the sector. To ensure that these bodies remain competitive, HTAP will provide investment for the development of their digital platforms. The tourism sector in Somerset comprises a particularly high concentration of small and micro businesses operating within tight margins, when compared to other tourist destinations. HTAP will help these businesses to strengthen their position by capitalising on new attractions, such as the England Coast Path and food and drink tourism via marketing, public relations and business planning support. Opportunities to enhance service delivery will be provided through training initiatives and businesses will be encouraged to take part in awards schemes to raise their profile. The strategy can be read in full at this link: Hinkley Tourism Strategy 2015-20
Landscape enhancements The HTAP strategy identifies the County’s landscape as the biggest attraction for visitors. The s106 agreement provides continued funding to support a Greater Quantock Landscape Development Fund to support local communities and individuals to help restore or enhance the natural beauty of the area. The Fund is administered by the Quantock Hills AONB partnership and panel members comprises representatives from the joint councils, EDF Energy, Quantock Hills AONB partnership and local councillors, with award grants up to £20,000.Details of how to apply for funding and the awards made in 2018/19 can be found at this link: Greater Quantock Landscape Development Fund
Conclusion The Council has responded robustly to delays and changes to the planned implementation of the HPC project. In terms of accommodation, it anticipated that additional pressure has been placed on the PRS because of the delay in reaching the FID and from the changes to campus provision. Its decision to temporarily remove the restrictions associated with seasonal use at a number of caravan parks has utilised a considerable number of additional bed spaces, provided an opportunity for investment in these parks and has not detracted from the tourism economy.
In addition, the Council has created a considerably higher number of additional bed spaces between 2015 and 2019 than originally expected. These additional spaces will help to absorb the HPC workforce, reducing the likelihood that housing options for the local
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community will be constrained. However, it is clear from the monitoring data that accommodation demands and impacts are concentrated in Sedgemoor and specifically Bridgwater. The original distribution assessed by EDF Energy’s accommodation strategy has not occurred to date, with the workforce choosing to live closer to site and the bus routes. The use and interpretation of definitions and the potential impact on data and monitoring returns and the consequent impact on contingency payments, remains a key compliance concern. The Council remain committed to working with EDF Energy to gain a richer understanding of their workforce profile, which would be greatly assisted by EDF Energy providing SEAG with more consistent and detailed data, and to updating the HPC accommodation strategy to more accurately reflect the supply and demand of housing in the district.
In response to the delay to the construction of the jetty and the consequent raising of the cap on HGV movements, the Council and its partners were successful in securing appropriate mitigation for any potential adverse impacts. EDF Energy have not yet needed to make use of this temporary increase and so the impact of HGV’s on the district has not changed. However, this additional mitigation, together with other measures being taken by the Council, such as enhancements to Bridgwater town centre, improvements to cycle routes and footpaths and involvement in the travel demand programme will help to reduce congestion associated with HPC and alleviate any negative perceptions held by tourists, shoppers and investors in this regard.
The potential benefits to the local economy are evidenced by the significant number of Sedgemoor based companies registered with the HPC supply chain portal, and this figure has continued to grow throughout 2018/19. The Council is working to ensure that this potential is realised by providing support to local businesses to help them obtain contracts both in the direct and indirect HPC supply chain. Support is also being provided to local companies to help them secure work on projects, which may previously have been taken up by companies working on the HPC project. The Council has tailored its approach to suit the small and medium enterprises that predominate the local economy, through its business support initiatives and support through the HTAP. Construction projects associated with HPC have given the Council the opportunity to secure employment and procurement contracts for local people through LLA.
Several ‘state of the art’ training facilities have opened within the District in recent years, following planning consent from the Council. These facilities will enable local people to secure well paid employment at HPC and reduce the extent to which the workforce is sourced from outside the region, thereby reducing pressure on the transport network and the supply of accommodation. The Council is also involved in narrowing inequality by reducing unemployment and underemployment through the ‘Under Construction’ initiative and the Together Teams. Inequality relating to women in skilled employment and/or fully employed is a priority for the Council going forward.
In a number of cases, the Council has used s106 agreement funding to lever in additional monies, increasing the resources available. For example, Homes England and developers have used S106 funds to bring forward stalled housing projects by providing the stimulus for investment. They have also provided a means of generating extra resources for the tourism sector at a time when public sector funding for the industry has reduced.
In addition to responding to the opportunities and challenges presented by HPC, the Council is helping to ensure that the development confers a lasting and beneficial legacy to the district. It is envisaged that HPC will serve as a catalyst in the creation of a high value, knowledge-based economy. It is thought that high tech, low carbon related businesses, initially attracted by opportunities in the HPC supply chain, will choose to remain in the district post construction to benefit from the highly skilled local workforce and business park
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facilities currently being developed. These conditions should encourage further inward investment, generating continued growth in the local economy.
The substantial level of s106 agreement funding has enabled the HTAP to take a strategic approach to developing the tourism sector. By helping tourist information centres to improve their viability and supporting industry bodies to enhance their digital presence, the partnership is helping to create a more sustainable and high-quality industry. There is no evidence that HPC has adversely affected the tourism sector, so any development in this sector is therefore an added benefit from the project.
The opening of the Sedgemoor Campus has transformed a substantial brownfield site into one suitable for housing, within an area identified by the Council as a focus for housing growth and economic development. The housing market has responded to the demands of the HPC workforce by becoming more diverse, which will be to the benefit of the local population in the future. Housing enabling schemes in particular, have increased the supply of affordable housing, which is a key priority for the Council. In addition, the renovation of a number of derelict properties through enabling schemes and funding to bring empty properties back into use has helped to regenerate the area. Furthermore, S106 funding will contribute to strategic and long-term measures to improve the district’s resilience to flooding, reducing the risk to homes and promoting investor confidence.
The Council is mindful that the assessment, strategies and plans that underpin the DCO date back, in some cases, to 2010 and therefore require updating to understand and manage change to the HPC project effectively. The Council will continue to work with EDF Energy to ensure that the impacts of the project are accurately assessed and robustly audited. This will ensure that all changes to the project are fully understood and any adverse effects to the local community satisfactorily mitigated, with all opportunities for legacy benefits maximised.
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