PLANNING COMMITTEE DATE: 16/07/2020 REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT HEAD OF ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT Number: 1 Application C20/0244/08/LL Number: Date Registered: 05-03-2020 Application Type: Full Community: Penrhyndeudraeth Ward: Penrhyndeudraeth Proposal: The following development is located within the boundaries of Gwynedd Council Local Planning Authority: 1) Construction of Western tunnel head house (including the associated construction compound) at Garth and the permanent access track The following development is located within the boundaries of Snowdonia National Park Local Planning Authority: 2) Construction of Eastern tunnel head house (including the associated construction compound), sealing end compound and permanent access at Cilfor 3) A new sealing end compound on the eastern side of the Dwyryd Estuary to connect the underground cables to the overhead line The following development does not require formal planning permission : These proposals would allow for the construction of an underground tunnel housing electricity cables and the removal of 10 existing pylons and associated overhead lines from across the Dwyryd Estuary The application crosses the boundary between Gwynedd Council and the Snowdonia National Park and therefore you may receive a consultation from each authority in relation to the development located within its boundaries. Location: Land Near Garth Sealing End Compound, Minffordd, Penrhyndeudraeth, Summary of the Recommendation: TO APPROVE WITH CONDITIONS 1 Background: 1.1 This planning application has been submitted by the National Grid and relates to a project for the removal of electricity pylons between Minffordd and Cilfor (over the Dwyryd) and under-grounding the electricity cables for a distance of 3.5km. 1.2 The project as a whole crosses the boundaries of two Local Planning Authorities, namely Gwynedd Council and Snowdonia National Park. Planning applications have been submitted to both Authorities for the proposed work near the Garth site, in Minffordd and Cilfor. Gwynedd Council Local Planning Authority is dealing with the planning application for the proposed work near the Garth site in Minffordd, which is the subject of this planning application. Snowdonia National Park Planning Authority PLANNING COMMITTEE DATE: 16/07/2020 REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT HEAD OF ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT is dealing with the planning application for the proposed work at Cilfor. The relevant parts of these applications have been noted on the plans submitted by the applicant. 1.3 Both applications are being submitted before the relevant Planning Committee for a decision. 1.4 The project is part of a plan to mitigate the visual impact that the existing electricity infrastructure is having on national protected landscapes in Britain, and Ofgem has agreed on a provision of £500 million for projects within the plan for a period between 2013 and 2021. 1.5 The aim of the project referred to as the Visual Impact Provision (VIP) project at Snowdonia National Park is to reduce the visual impact of the National Grid's overhead line over the Dwyryd Estuary near Porthmadog. 1.6 Stakeholders have agreed that the best way of doing this is by removing a section of the overhead line and burying the electricity cables in an underground tunnel instead. This is an excellent opportunity to improve the natural beauty, wildlife and environmental heritage of this part of Snowdonia's precious landscape. 1.7 The section of overhead line under consideration runs from the Garth Sealing End Compound near Minffordd (to the east of Porthmadog), and crosses the Dwyryd Estuary in Penrhyndeudraeth, where it reaches the western end of the National Park. Then, it carries on to the east, just beyond the small settlement of Cilfor. 1.8 The section of overhead line, erected in 1966, is a section of a 400kV electricity line that connects the 400kV substation of Pentir, near Bangor, with the former Trawsfynydd Nuclear Power Plant, which is now a 400kV substation. 1.9 Underground cables already cross the Glaslyn Estuary to the west of the section where it is intended to implement the VIP project. 1.10 Currently, the pylons carry one 400kV circuit on one side of the pylon, and another 132kV circuit on the other side which is a part of the Distribution Network Operators (DNO) system, namely Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) in this area. 1.11 It was noted in an independent study of the landscape that this section of the line is having a major impact on the landscape in particular in the Ardudwy Coastal Countryside and on a small section of the Morfa Harlech landscape. This is a complex and dramatic landscape in the area between the National Park's coastline, which is popular with tourists, and the nearby hills. 1.12 The special features of the National Park can be seen clearly in the landscape which is very beautiful and valuable in terms of conservation and recreation. 1.13 The current overhead line clashes with the character of the landscape. It is very prominent and intrusive and it has an extensive influence on the surrounding landscape. 1.14 Removing this overhead line would improve the special features of the area's landscape, including the Aberglaslyn Registered Historic Landscape. The views and surroundings of the Portmeirion registered parklands and gardens and a number of listed buildings would also benefit and the views seen from local roads and paths and the coastal railway would improve, should the pylons be removed. PLANNING COMMITTEE DATE: 16/07/2020 REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT HEAD OF ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT 1.15 Therefore, the project's aim is to improve the appearance of the area by removing the pylons, and the plan includes many different elements, as noted below. 1.16 Due to the nature of the VIP project, it is inevitable that the development area will be very vast and includes parts of the Gwynedd Planning Authority and the Snowdonia National Park Planning Authority. In addition, the project as a whole means that there is a need to satisfy a combination of requirements Development which is the subject of a planning application within the Gwynedd Local Planning Authority area 1.17 Within the boundaries of Gwynedd Council's Local Planning Authority, the proposal involves erecting the Western tunnel head building (including the associated building compound), near the National Grid's existing site near Garth, Minffordd, along with a permanent access track. 1.18 This building would measure approximately 15.2m by 12.7m and 5.9m in height to the roof ridge. This building would provide access to the tunnel that will include the underground cables that are replacing the overhead pylons, electrical and mechanical equipment, including minor ventilation equipment, a control room and restricted welfare facilities. It is proposed to finish the building in stone with a grey slate finish and aluminium cladding in the form of louvres on a steel frame on the walls, and zinc panels on the roof. 1.19 It is proposed to provide an associated compound that measures approximately 40m by 40m and includes three parking spaces and a new vehicular access and track that leads from the existing highway to the south of this site, and it is proposed to provide a culvert over the existing drain in the field. It is proposed to provide a metal fence measuring 2.4m high (colour to be agreed) around the building, with an additional 1m high charged fence, as well as the provision of landscaping and native planting around the site in order to provide a screen. 1.20 Please note that the above development is the only element that is the subject of the planning application submitted before Gwynedd Council; the remainder of the development noted is either located within Snowdonia National Park (and is the subject of a separate planning application), or is being dealt with under separate legislation, or does not require formal planning permission as noted and explained below. Development that is the subject of a planning application within Snowdonia National Park Planning Authority 1.21 A part of the development is located within the boundaries of the Snowdonia National Park Planning Authority, and this part includes the erection of the Eastern tunnel head building (including the associated building compound), a new sealing end compound and permanent access to the new site in Cilfor. 1.22 The tunnel head building and the new sealing end compound are located on the same site near Cilfor and within Snowdonia National Park. The footprint of the new sealing end compound would measure approximately 28m by 50m and the highest equipment on this site would measure approximately 6-8m. The tunnel head building would measure approximately 44.8m by 18.5m and 12.7m in height. This building would provide access to the tunnel that will contain the underground cables that are replacing the overhead pylons, electrical and mechanical equipment, including necessary ventilation equipment, a control room and restricted welfare facilities. It is proposed to finish the building with weathered metal cladding and ventilation louvres along the PLANNING COMMITTEE DATE: 16/07/2020 REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT HEAD OF ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT length of the building, along with piled slate walls and slate-coloured doors to match the walls. 1.23 It is proposed to provide an associated compound that includes six parking spaces and a new vehicular access and track from the highway with the A496, which would measure approximately 290m long to the north-east and it would avoid an area of peat within the site. It is proposed to provide a metal fence measuring 2.4m high (colour to be agreed) around the building, with an additional 1m high charged fence, as well as the provision of landscaping and native planting around the site in order to provide a screen.