Chapter 05: Planning Considerations Table of Contents 5.1 Introduction 5.2 UK Wide Planning Policies 5.3 Welsh National Planning Advice & Policies 5.4 Development Plan Policies 5.5 LANDMAP 5.6 Summary Table of Figures Figure 5.1 TAN8 Strategic Search Areas List of Tables Table 5.1 Other Relevant UDP Policies New 132kV Overhead Line Connection from Llandinam Wind Farm to Welshpool Substation planning considerations 5.1 Introduction 5.1.1 This chapter sets out planning policies including UK, Welsh and local Technical Advice Note 8: Planning for Renewable development plan policies directly relevant to the proposed overhead line and Energy (TAN8), July 2005 assesses it against these policies. In respect of local development plan policies, reference is first made to the Powys County Structure Plan. No reference is 5.3.3 TAN8 provides technical advice to supplement the policy set out in Planning made to Montgomeryshire Local Plan as it has never been adopted and does not Policy Wales (PPW) and the Ministerial Interim Planning Policy Statement (MIPPS) therefore form part of the Development Plan. For this reason, reference is made on Renewable Energy, which amends PPW, and should be read in conjunction to the more recent Powys Unitary Development Plan Deposit Draft (UDP). with these documents. Both these documents must be taken into account by local planning authorities as material to decisions on planning applications. 5.1.2 Following the main policy considerations, this chapter then identifies the key TAN8 is also relevant to the authorisation of electricity generation schemes by local planning policies that need to be considered in the subsequent assessment the UK Government under Section 36 and Section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989. in respect of each of the environmental topics included in this Environmental Statement (ES). 5.3.4 TAN8 notes that the planning system has an important role to play in achieving the Welsh Assembly Government’s commitment to enabling the deployment of all forms of renewable energy. Paragraph 2.2 states that onshore wind power 5.2 UK Wide Planning Policies offers the greatest potential for an increase in the generation of electricity from renewable energy. In order to try and meet the target for onshore wind development, as set by UK energy policy, the Welsh Assembly Government has National Policy Statements identified areas for all large scale onshore wind development. These discrete 5.2.1 In November 2009, the Government published six draft National Policy geographical areas are known as Strategic Search Areas (SSA). The Llandinam Statements (NPSs) including, the draft Overarching NPS for Energy (EN-1), wind farm is located just outside SSA C Newtown South, as shown in Figure 5.1: the draft NPS for Renewable Energy Infrastructure (EN-3) and the draft NPS for TAN8 Strategic Search Areas. Electricity Networks Infrastructure (EN-5). These will be the primary consideration for the new Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) when it makes decisions 5.3.5 In Annex C paragraph 2.11, the need for connection to the electricity grid is on applications for development consent for nationally significant energy identified and in paragraph 2.13 it is noted that the electrical grid capacity is very infrastructure. As such NPSs will be material consideration in respect to the restricted in Mid Wales and the construction of new network is required. consideration of applications by local planning authorities. The aim of the NPSs is to have a significant positive effect at the national policy level by contributing Renewable Energy Route Map for Wales 2008 to the delivery of a low carbon economy and security of supply in line with the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan – National strategy for climate and energy, which sets 5.3.6 The Welsh Assembly Government has been reviewing its own national energy out a detailed low carbon transition plan to 2020. policy and has prepared the Renewable Energy Route Map for Wales, which was published in March 2008. This document highlights the need and reasons for meeting renewable energy targets and a series of actions required for meeting Energy Act 2008 these targets. It states that the development of additional electricity infrastructure 5.2.2 The 2008 Energy Act, although not a planning policy document, emphasises in Mid Wales is crucial to reaching renewable energy targets. improving the security of energy supply and creating a general presumption in favour of energy schemes, which meet this objective. The Energy Act refers to UK Government support for a Statement of Need for renewable energy schemes, 5.4 Development Plan Policies which is intended to facilitate the development of more renewable energy. Powys County Structure Plan (Replacement) 1996 5.3 Welsh National Planning Advice & Policies 5.4.1 The Structure Plan states its support for renewable energy in Section 2 where a Strategic Aim under Environment and Conservation is to ‘encourage or enable proposals directed at energy efficiency or energy generation from renewable Planning Policy Wales (PPW), March 2002 as amended sources.’ by Ministerial Interim Planning Policy Statement 01/2005: Planning for Renewable Energy, July 2005 5.4.2 With regard to overhead lines the relevant Structure Plan policy is Policy CS11: 5.3.1 The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to sustainable development, Utilities. This states that development by statutory undertakers who provide aiming to provide 800MW of renewable energy from onshore wind energy water, drainage, sewerage and sewage disposal, electricity and gas services, development by 2010. Planning Policy Wales, as amended by Ministerial Interim which require planning permission will normally be permitted, provided that Planning Policy Statement 01/2005, states in Paragraph 12.8.12 that local planning they: authorities should facilitate the development of all forms of renewable energy, and that they should ensure that development control decisions contribute to Are capable of being provided with a safe and acceptable road access, national renewable energy targets. servicing, turning and parking provision where required. Are sited and designed to be sympathetic to the character, appearance 5.3.2 Paragraph 12.10.1 states that: and natural beauty of their surroundings. ‘Local planning authorities should consider the effects of any scheme and Are in conformity with the wide range of conservation policies contained its associated infrastructure in relation to sustainable development criteria in the Plan, including conservation of historic and archaeological features, relating to economic, social and environmental effects including the need to habitats, protected species and ecosystems. meet national renewable energy targets. Are capable of being landscaped to the satisfaction of the local planning Where a development is likely to cause demonstrable harm to a designated authority, where relevant, including the retention of existing trees and/ area by virtue of having a significant adverse effect on the qualities for which or hedgerows and the planting of native trees wherever possible, having the site was designated, consideration should be given to refusing the regard to the safety and integrity of the system. development if such effects cannot be overcome by mitigation measures, Are sited and designed so as to avoid causing unacceptable adverse planning conditions or obligations. Conditions should also be attached to effects upon the amenities of neighbouring land uses. any planning permission specifying requirements for removal of the turbines and all associated infrastructure and remediation of the site as soon as their Do not create unacceptable planning, access, service, environmental or use ceases.’ amenity problems. New 132kV Overhead Line Connection from Llandinam Wind Farm to Welshpool Substation 31 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Welshpool Substation ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !( ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Carno North SSA B ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Bryn Dadlau Substation ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! !( ! ! Newtown South SSA C ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Key ! Key: !! ! ! Figure 5.1 ! ! ! ! ! !( ! TAN8 Strategic !(Search Area Substations ! Substations TAN8 Strategic Search Area ! !!!! !!!! TAN8 Strategic Search Areas !! ! ! !! ! Proposed Route !!!! Powys CC Refined Strategic Search Area !!! ! !!!! Powys CC Refined Strategic Search Area Preferred Route ! !!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! NTS ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Reproduced from the Ordnance! Survey map with the permission of Ordnance Survey® on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office,© Crown copyright Licence No. EL273112 32 New 132kV Overhead Line Connection from Llandinam Wind Farm to Welshpool Substation planning considerations The Powys Unitary Development Plan Deposit Draft adversely affected, in view of the length of the