REPORT OF THE HEAD OF COMMUNITY WELLBEING AND DEVELOPMENT - 5 May 2015

APPLICATION NO: LOCATION: DATE RECEIVED: P/2014 /0584 AREA BETWEEN AND 07/08/2014 LLANSILIN PARTLY WITHIN BOUNDARY OF COMMUNITY: LLANGOLLEN WREXHAM CASE OFFICER: Glyntrian LL20 7HW KH

DESCRIPTION: WARD: ERECTION OF NEW 3 WIRE 33KV AGENT NAME: OVERHEAD LINE SUPPORTED BY FREEDOM WSE WOODPOLES WITH A LENGTH OF SARA BRAUNE APPROXIMATELY 1.65 KM.

APPLICANT(S) NAME: SP ENERGY NETWORKS ______P/2014/0584 THE SITE

The proposed works involve the erection of a 3 wire 33kv line supported by wood poles.

The overall extent of works runs between Llangollen to Llansilin, through the counties of , and with a length of approximately 9.1 km.

The site of the overhead line within Wrexham covers a distance of 1.65 km, and it includes the southern section as shown on the plan (next page).

Two sections were originally proposed on either side of the valley. A northern section was included - running southwards from the boundary with Denbighshire, and this this is 0.77km long. However this section is now underground because of the adjoining presence of an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) within Denbighshire.

The southern section of the overhead line will run north of the boundary with Powys.

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REPORT OF THE HEAD OF COMMUNITY WELLBEING AND DEVELOPMENT - 5 May 2015

PROPOSAL

See above. The scheme has been amended to remove the northern section of the overhead line.

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REPORT OF THE HEAD OF COMMUNITY WELLBEING AND DEVELOPMENT - 5 May 2015

DEVELOPMENT PLAN

The site lies outside the settlement limits as defined in the Wrexham Unitary Development Plan. Policies PS2, GDP1, EC4 and EC6 refer. The poles will cross a non-statutory wildlife site W247 Llechrydau – which comprises a large upland area of flushes, blanket bog, acid grassland and bracken.

CONSULTATIONS

Community Council: Consulted 12/8/2014 Local Member: Notified 12/8/2014 Highways: No adverse comments but Highways must be consulted before street works are carried out Natural Resources : No objections, providing advice regarding protected species. No information has been supplied regarding tree clearance. Subject to no trees being felled, and the works being carried out during daytime hours, it is considered that the development will not impact upon the favourable conservation status of bats. Some of the line is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and it is important to conserve and enhance the natural beauty. Public Protection: No comments CPAT: No significant adverse visual impact upon the Vale of Llangollen Registered Historic Landscape or the World Heritage Site and its buffer zone arising from the construction of the overhead line. Site Notice: 5 notices expired Other Representations: 2 representations received raising the following: • Welcome that much of the proposed line within Wrexham will be underground. • Lines above Cae Mor Ucha will be on poles crossing another area of natural beauty, and these will be between 8.5 and 13.5m or 14.5m high. The relay mast which is close to the line is 20 m high, and therefore this gives some idea of the scale and impact. • The poles will cross open fields and sites of ecological interest and will be exposed and visually intrusive. • The line will cross wildlife site (W247) and a special landscape area, and it will be viewed from a local public right of way. There are limited poles across this area at present. • Alternative routes should be considered as the line is only for customers in Llangollen and Llansilin.

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REPORT OF THE HEAD OF COMMUNITY WELLBEING AND DEVELOPMENT - 5 May 2015

• With poles in an exposed area there is a high probability of winter storm damage • Original line should be adapted • Ceiriog Valley is trying to promote tourism, and the landscape should not be scarred with a proliferation of lines and poles. • Conditions were attached to a previous 60 m anemometer proposal and similar ones should be imposed to stop further damage to this local special area and environment.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/ ISSUES

Proposal/Visual impact: The application confirms that a substantial section of the works will be underground, and the length of overhead line through the Wrexham Borough Council area will be 1.65 km long. The line is proposed to be mounted on wooden poles. The poles will be 12m high with on average 2m of this buried in the ground. In some cases, for ground clearance purposes, they may be more than 10m above the ground, but this is less likely. The design is mainly single poles, with some H poles (about 4) on the sharper angles, exposed sites or to help maintain the route. The majority of poles will be in Powys to the south. The route will cause limited disruption to the existing landscape, and tree loss is minimal.

Above – Typical images of pole design

Single pole desing with 3 power lines Example of H pole. NB: This includes a transformer& LV, which would not form part of the proposed line

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REPORT OF THE HEAD OF COMMUNITY WELLBEING AND DEVELOPMENT - 5 May 2015

Given the nature of overhead lines, it is appreciated that the land where the poles are going to be positioned will be exposed to some extent, the design of the scheme and their limited height will not cause significant harm to the existing landscaping and topography.

Ecology: A Protected Species and Habitats Survey Review has been submitted with the application. The Council’s ecologist is satisfied that the report is acceptable subject to the proposed mitigation and recommendations subject to this report. A detailed method statement for working within the non- statutory wildlife site (W247) is required (involving poles 39 – 47), and the Council’s ecologist requests an opportunity to view and comment upon these measures. This can be included as part of any decision as part of the normal Part II answers of this type of application. NRW also raises no objection subject to specific caveats.

Any impact in relation to the underground section of the line (in relation to SSSI and River Dee and Bala Lake SAC) is not forming part of this application.

CONCLUSION

A substantial proportion of the works will be underground with only 1.65km located on wooden poles. The scheme linking the substations in Llangollen and Llansilin is designed to reinforce local supplies, and this work is of significant importance for Scottish Power, and one that Scottish Power has been trying to find a solution to for a long time. I understand that Powys have granted consent for the 5km of this overhead link through the County. Whilst I appreciate there will be some visual impact, I consider the proposal to reinforce the high voltage network is acceptable in this instance.

RECOMMENDATION A

That Wrexham County Borough Council has no objections to make to the development, and does not request that a public inquiry be held pursuant to paragraph 2 of Schedule 8 to the Electricity Act 1989 before the Secretary of State reaches a final decision on the application.

RECOMMENDATION B

That the following condition(s) be included as part of question 6 of Part II of Form B (a) as required under the Electricity Act 1989

CONDITION(S)

1. No part of the development shall commence until the County’s ecologist has been given the opportunity to comment upon a detailed method statement of works to be carried out within the non-statutory wildlife site area (W247).

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REPORT OF THE HEAD OF COMMUNITY WELLBEING AND DEVELOPMENT - 5 May 2015

2. All trees removed as part of this consent shall be suitably replaced. Details of the replacement tree(s) including species, stock size and planting location shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to the commencement of the approved works. The approved replacement planting shall be undertaken during the next available planting season following removal, unless a time extension is otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

REASON(S) 1. To protect named species/habitats/biodiversity which would otherwise be damaged/lost by the development hereby permitted. 2. To ensure that existing landscape features are suitably replaced. ______

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