APPLICATION NUMBER: WD/D/18/000047 APPLICATION SITE: LAND FROM WINTERBORNE ABBAS TO FRIAR WADDON INCLUDING BRADFORD PEVERELL, COMPTON VALLANCE, FRAMPTON, MARTINSTOWN, PORTESHAM, WINTERBOURNE ABBAS, AND WINTERBORNE STEEPLETON PROPOSAL: The proposal comprises the following main elements: Installation of approximately 8.8km of 400kV underground cables; Construction of two cable sealing end compounds (SECs) including permanent access roads, required to connect the new underground cables to the existing overhead line; Dismantling and permanent removal of 8.25km of 400kV overhead line including 22 pylons Temporary works to facilitate road works and construction access. Replacement of one terminal pylon and approximately 0.6km of new 400kV overhead line (separate consent under s37 of the Electricity Act) APPLICANT: National Grid CASE OFFICER: Sophie Mawdsley WARD MEMBER(S): Cllr T Bartlett, Cllr I Gardner, Cllr J Dunseith RECOMMENDATION SUMMARY: Approve subject to S106 and conditions 1. DESCRIPTION OF SITE: 1.1 The vast majority of the application site lies within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and covers four separate landscape character areas. The northern Sealing End Compound is located within the Upper Frome Valley and then the cabling will enter the South Dorset Downs for the majority of the application site. The southern section of the site lies within the South Dorset Escarpment and ends within the South Dorset Ridge and Vale with the Southern End Compound. Each of the character areas has different characteristics and the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment identifies the impact of the proposal on the environment. 1.2 The Environmental Statement describes the location of the development; ‘The OHL to be undergrounded runs south from elevated ground, near Lankham Eweleaze, north-west of Winterbourne Abbas, across the A35, over undulating downland west of the B3159 road and the settlements of Winterbourne Abbas, Winterbourne Steepleton and Martinstown. The OHL continues in a south-easterly direction crossing over a minor road east of Ballarat Farm before turning south, across the upper slopes of Shorn Hill and Corton Down where it crosses the South Dorset Ridgeway, before abruptly stepping over the South Dorset Escarpment, east of Corton Farm (in an area known as Friar Waddon Hill) where it also crosses the Jubilee Trail before exiting the AONB’. 1.3 The site lies within a rich archaeological landscape and specifically the route of the cable would pass through the South Dorset Ridgeway which according to the Environmental Statement contains a high density of archaeological monuments and historic landscape features. Features and evidence includes prehistoric barrow monuments, lynchetts, a Roman settlement, a medieval and post-medieval settlement and WWII military remains. There are a number of listed buildings within the area including those at Friar Waddon and Corton including the Grade II* Chapel of St Bartholomew. 1.4 There are a number of Statutory ecological designated sites within 2km of the site boundary. Blackdown (Hardy Monument), a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) lies to the west and Pitcome Down SSSI 2km to the west. In terms of non-statutory designated sites, There are 20 Sites of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) including Winterbourne Steepleton and Waddon, Corton and Friar Waddon within the application site, Kit Hill Bottom 45m to the east and Compton Valence to the north. 2. DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT: 2.1 The full planning application seeks permission for the Installation of approximately 8.8km of 400kV underground cables; Construction of two cable sealing end compounds (SECs) including permanent access roads, required to connect the new underground cables to the existing overhead line; Dismantling and permanent removal of 8.25km of 400kV overhead line including 22 pylons Temporary works to facilitate road works and construction access. 2.2 This scheme, known as the Dorset Project forms part of the wider Visual Impact Provision (VIP) Project by the National Grid which has been allocated £500m by Ofgem to carry out work to reduce the impact of existing transmission lines in English and Welsh Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks. The overhead line (OHL) within the Dorset AONB is one of four projects that have been chosen to take forward. The non-Technical Summary states; ‘The Dorset Project represents a major opportunity to mitigate the visual impact of existing electricity infrastructure within the Dorset AONB and to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and environmental heritage of the area’. 2.3 The Introduction to the Environmental Statement outlines that under Section 38 of the Electricity Act 1989, National Grid is required to comply with Schedule 9 of the Act which requires licence holders to: Schedule 9(1)(a) “have regard to the desirability of preserving natural beauty, of conserving flora, fauna and geological or physiographical features of special interest and of protecting sites, buildings and objects of architectural, historic or archaeological interest”; and Schedule 9(1) (b) “do what he reasonably can to mitigate any effect which the proposals would have on the natural beauty of the countryside or on any such flora, fauna, features, sites, building or objects”. 2.4 The proposal is to underground a 8.8km section of the existing 400kw OHL from north west of Winterbourne Abbas, southwards across the A35 and west of Winterbourne Abbas, Winterbourne Steepleton and Martinstown to a location east of Corton Farm, Friar Waddon Hill which lies just outside of the AONB boundary. 22 existing pylons would be removed and two Sealing End Compounds (SECs) are required in order to connect the new underground cables with the existing OHL. One is proposed to the north west of Winterbourne Abbas and the Southern Compound to the south of Corton Farm. 2.5 In terms of the construction phase, this is anticipated to take approximately 3 years and then the removal of the OHL and pylons will follow this installation. The construction involves 12 cables being installed within 4 parallel trenches with a construction working width area of 60m. This would include the temporary haul road which would be utilised by construction traffic. The Sealing End Compounds measuring 68m by 40m consist of gantries, switchgear, sealing ends and support structures bounded by a perimeter security fence. 2.6 During the construction phase there will be modifications to the highway network. However, there is a Construction Traffic Management Plan and Public Rights of Way will be manged to ensure minimal disruption and conflicts between the users. Access to the North Sealing End Compound and the route north of Winterbourne Abbas will be from the Roman road which runs parallel to the A35 and access to the south of the A35 will be accessed directly from the A35. 2.7 Specifically the Project includes the following construction works; Temporary widening of various sections along the Roman Road to facilitate HGV access Construction and presence of 3 temporary bellmouth access points for HGV’s via the Roman Road and the A35, with a further 6 smaller bellmouth access points on Coombe Road, Friar Waddon Road and an unnamed road. Construction of a temporary haul road, approximately 9km long and 4m wide with 7m wide passing places at regular intervals along route. This will cross the public highway at 4 locations – A35, Coombe Road, Unnamed road (National Cycle Route 2) and Friar Waddon Road. Upgrading of existing farm track to North Sealing End Compound from Roman Road. Upgrading sections of existing farm track to SSEC from Friar Waddon Road. Removal of approximately 21 hedgerows and field boundary trees, across the works area measuring approximately 4.9km of hedgerow. Installation of a Link Pillar Box at each cable joint location above ground (to enable monitoring of cables). Main works Construction Compound located south of the A35 measuring 100m x 100m with hardstanding, welfare facilities, parking, porta cabin offices, spoil storage, waste, security and laydown areas. 2.8 The Dorset Project also involves the replacement OHL via a replacement pylon at the Southern SEC which is exempt under The Overhead Lines (Exemption) (England & Wales) Regulations 2009 and notification has been given to the Council. The Planning Authority raised objections to this on archaeology grounds and further work is being done to overcome these concerns. Section 37 Consent is being obtained from the Secretary of State, Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy for the replacement OHL near the northern SEC. 2.9 The development has been considered to be EIA development and as such an Environmental Statement has been submitted as part of the application. This deals with the following issues; landscape, ecology, historic environment, water resources, geology, soils and contamination, agriculture and land use, traffic and transport, socio- economics and tourism and noise and vibration. A Search Area for the purposes of baseline data collection has been established which is based on the likely maximum extent of permanent and temporary works that has been defined. Study area extents differ depending on the environmental aspect being considered. The proposal has been subject to comprehensive pre-application discussions and negotiations with a number of national bodies including Natural England, Historic England, Highways Agency and the Environment Agency. 3. RELEVANT PLANNING HISTORY: None relevant 4. RELEVANT PLANNING POLICIES: National Planning Policy Framework 4.1 As far as this application is concerned the following sections of the NPPF are considered to be relevant; Section 1 - Building a strong, competitive economy Section 3 - Supporting a prosperous rural economy Section 7 – Design Section 10 – Meeting the challenges of climate change Section 11 – Natural Environment Section 12 - Historic Environment Para 186 - Local planning authorities should approach decision-taking in a positive way to foster the delivery of sustainable development. The relationship between decision-taking and plan-making should be seamless, translating plans into high quality development on the ground.