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Summary of Responses , File Type Number: WG42890 Welsh Government Summary of responses Global Centre of Rail Excellence in Wales Planning pre-application October 2020 Mae’r ddogfen yma hefyd ar gael yn Gymraeg. This document is also available in Welsh. © Crown Copyright Digital ISBN 978-1-80195-462-4 Contents Contents .............................................................................................................................................. 2 Executive summary ......................................................................................................................... 3 1. Project overview ...................................................................................................................... 5 2. Consultation methodology ................................................................................................... 8 2.1. Guidance ......................................................................................................................................... 8 2.2. Consultation approach .............................................................................................................. 8 2.3. Consultees ...................................................................................................................................... 9 3. Consultation tools ................................................................................................................. 10 3.2. Stage 1: Project briefing/early engagement .................................................................... 10 3.3. Stage 2: Statutory pre-application consultation ............................................................ 13 4. Consultation results, issues and responses ................................................................... 16 4.1. Early Engagement ...................................................................................................................... 16 4.2. PAC consultation ........................................................................................................................ 16 5. Conclusion................................................................................................................................ 45 2 Executive summary Welsh Government, working in partnership with Neath Port Talbot and Powys Councils, has developed proposals for a Global Centre of Rail Excellence on a surface mine and coal washery site in Onllwyn and Nant Helen at the head of the Dulais and Tawe Valleys. The proposals form an important addition to the site’s restoration strategy being brought forward by Celtic Energy and will act as a driver for rail industry innovation, investment and growth in Wales, the wider UK and internationally. Comprehensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders is fundamental to developing the best possible proposals and, in response to the complexities of this project, a phased engagement/consultation has been carried out to enable local residents and stakeholders to help inform the masterplan for the site. As part of the business case development for the project, extensive ‘soft-market- testing’ has been carried out with rail industry stakeholders. This has allowed business need to be examined and technical advice to be incorporated into an initial design. This design then formed the basis of the project briefing and early engagement with residents and a wide range of local and community stakeholders (2 July - 7 October 2019). Early engagement included online information, a series of meetings/briefing sessions and community drop in events. Residents and stakeholders were encouraged to consider the opportunities and constraints associated with the initial design and help identify how the project could maximise social and economic benefits while minimising environmental impacts. Over 450 people attended these early engagement events to discuss the emerging proposals with members of the project team and over 70 responses were received (by questionnaire, email or phone). The majority of people spoken to were supportive of the project and the benefits it would bring to the local and wider area. Key issues raised by local people including noise, vibration, air quality and light pollution have been considered and were addressed in the draft outline planning application consulted on as part of the statutory pre-application consultation (17 September to 14 October). The issue of common land and public rights of way was also raised, which is being addressed as part of a separate consultation being led by Powys County Council. Due to Government guidelines to help reduce the spread of Coronavirus, the statutory consultation was carried out online and discussions took place by telephone or virtual meetings via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. The project consultation webpage included a draft of the planning documents as well as a Consultation Summary Document and a Non-Technical Summary of the Environmental Statement as well as feedback mechanisms to encourage people to share their thoughts on the draft outline masterplan. Hard copies of the key consultation documents were available on request. A total of twelve responses were received from specialist consultees and their comments have been addressed in section 5.1. To address comments raised, several additional surveys (including a night-time visual impact survey and traffic surveys) have been undertaken as well as updating the outline Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP), Environmental Statement (ES) and Traffic Assessment to support the 3 submission of the planning application. A total of 63 responses where received from neighbours, community consultees, owner/occupiers and the wider community – through the feedback questionnaire, emails and phone calls. Those supporting the proposal recognised the economic benefits the project would bring to the area including new jobs, training opportunities, tourism potential and support for the local supply chain. Concerns were raised about the potential negative impact on local amenity and wellbeing of residents, especially with the potential for a 24/7 operation, as well as the effects of traffic, vibration and noise, air and light pollution. These comments have been addressed in section 5.2 This Pre-application Consultation Report sets out who was consulted; how they were consulted; how they were informed about the engagement/consultation process; the feedback received and how comments have been considered and responded to as appropriate in the planning application. 4 1. Project overview 1.1. Welsh Government working in partnership with Powys County Council and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, has developed proposals for a Global Centre of Rail Excellence in Wales on the site of the Nant Helen surface mine and Onllwyn coal washery site at the head of the Dulais and Tawe Valleys. 1.2. Celtic Energy is due to cease coaling operations at the Nant Helen site, at which point it will be restored under statutory obligations determined and consented by Powys County Council. The first application (Powys County Council ref: 19/1899/REM) for the restoration of the current working area was approved in April 2020. 1.3. Celtic Energy amended the restoration scheme earlier this year in order to facilitate the Global Centre of Rail Excellence project. The second planning application was for the construction of complementary restoration earthworks to create two looped landform platforms (part in cutting and part on embankment) with associated drainage infrastructure and areas of landscaping and habitat creation. The earthworks were designed to enable the Global Centre of Rail Excellence earthworks programme to progress alongside the restoration proposals. That planning application (Powys County Council ref: 20/0738/FUL and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council ref: P2020/0362) was approved at the end of July 2020. 1.4. The Global Centre of Rail Excellence project offers an opportunity for significant rail investment in Wales. Transport for Wales has committed to revitalising the rail network by providing new services and rolling stock (trains and carriages), innovative solutions and a significant programme of station investment. 1.5. The UK Government’s Rail Sector Deal (2018) sets out a new approach that promotes partnership working between the public and private sectors to increase innovation and productivity. Its aim is that the UK should deliver the benefits of new digital technology and become a world leader in rail technology and decarbonisation, boosting exports and skills. 1.6. The need for a world-class test facility to support and accelerate the delivery of these strategic aims has been recognised by the UK Government. As new trains and other components are introduced to the UK rail network, they need to be thoroughly tested before they become operational. Currently, UK manufactured trains are frequently transported to European testing facilities at significant cost. 1.7. A Global Centre of Rail Excellence will provide a multi-faceted railway testing and validation facility capable of testing both infrastructure for introduction on the railway and rolling stock. Such a facility would offer the rail industry the ability to bring forward innovation to network readiness at a much faster pace than is currently the case. This would reduce industry costs, support decarbonisation and help to facilitate innovation, increase skills and training and create jobs in the UK. Given the demand for test facilities across Europe and beyond it is expected that a
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