NSN LINK Environmental Statement Environmental Statement Figures and Appendices July 2014 NSN LINK UK ONSHORE DEVELOPMENTS Prepared by TEP For NSN Link Ltd TEP Genesis Centre Birchwood Science Park Warrington WA3 7BH Tel: 01925 844004 Fax: 01925 844002 e-mail: [email protected] Written: Checked: Approved: AC JB IJG Environmental Statement Contents Chapters Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Scoping and Consultation Chapter 3 Approach to EIA Chapter 4 Project Description Chapter 5 Planning Policy Review Chapter 6 Alternatives Chapter 7 Ecology Chapter 8 Landscape Assessment Chapter 9 Visual Assessment Chapter 10 Historic Environment Chapter 11 Land Use Chapter 12 Geology and Ground Conditions Chapter 13 Hydrology and Flood Risk Chapter 14 Traffic and Transport Chapter 15 Noise and Vibration Chapter 16 Air Quality Chapter 17 Electric and Magnetic Fields Chapter 18 Socio-Economics Chapter 19 Conclusions (including Glossary) Figures Figure 1.1 Location Plan Figure 1.2 Red Line Planning Application Boundary Figure 4.1 Site Block Plan Figure 4.2 Proposed Floor Plans Figure 4.3 Finished Floor and Site Levels Figure 4.4 Proposed Elevations Figure 4.5 Cable Route Sections Figure 7.1 Area of Ecology Survey Figure 7.2 Statutory and Non-Statutory Nature Conservation Sites within Study Area Figure 7.3.1 - 7.3.3 Phase 1 Habitat Plans Figures Figure 7.4 Location of Ponds Assessed for Great Crested Newts Figure 7.5 Location of Bat Surveys Figure 8.1 National Landscape Character Areas Figure 9.1 Zone of Theoretical Visibility Figure 9.2 Visual Receptors Figure 9.3 Photographic Viewpoint Locations Figure 9.4 – 9.10 Photograph Views Figure 9.11 – 9.16 Verified Photomontage Viewpoints Figure 10.1 Heritage Assets within Study Area Figure 13.1 Key Surface Watercourses Figure 14.1 Transport Context Plan Appendices (included in the Environmental Statement) Appendix 2.1 Response from Northumberland County Council dated 6 December 2013 Appendix 2.2 Response from Northumberland County Council ref JGD/13/03524/OU dated 28 April 2014 Appendix 2.3 TEP response to comments from Northumberland County Council ref JGD/13/03524/OU Appendix 10.1 Gazetteer of Known Heritage Assets within the Study Area Appendix 12.1 Northumberland County Council Consultation Response Appendix 12.2 Contaminated Land Risk Assessment - Construction Stage (without mitigation) Appendix 14.1 Construction Traffic Trip Generations Calculations Appendix 15.1 BS5228 Assessment – Cable Corridor Appendix 15.2 BS5228 Assessment – Converter Station Technical Reports (available on request) Grayling, Statement of Community Involvement February 2014 UK – Norway Electricity Interconnector (NSN Link) Winter and Breeding Bird Survey 2012 to 2014 NSN Link Ltd Ecological Assessment of the Cambois and East Sleekburn Area Arup, Coal Mining Risk Assessment Report, 2013 Worley Parsons, Land Parcel 1 (Cable Landfall and Route) – Factual Geo-Environmental Site Technical Reports (available on request) Investigation Report Worley Parsons, Land Parcel 1 (Cable Landfall and Route) -Environmental Assessment, Interpretative Site Investigation Report Worley Parsons, Land Parcel 2 (Converter Station) - Factual Geo- Environmental Site Investigation Report Worley Parsons, Land Parcel 2 (Converter Station) – Environmental Assessment, Interpretative Site Investigation Report Ramboll, UK-Norway Electricity Interconnector (NSN Link) Flood Risk Assessment 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This Environmental Statement (ES) accompanies National Grid NSN Link Ltd.’s planning application for the UK onshore elements of the UK-Norway Electricity Interconnector (“NSN Link”), which was submitted to Northumberland County Council on 15th November 2013 (application reference number 13/03524/OUT). 1.2 NSN Link is a proposed high voltage direct current (HVDC) electricity interconnector with an approximate capacity of 1400 megawatts (MW). It will allow the transfer of electrical power between the UK and Norway, via subsea cables. The interconnector will be bi-directional allowing the import and export of electricity between the UK and Norway. Inset 1.1: Schematic illustration of the NSN Link 1.3 The proposed connection point for NSN Link into the national electricity transmission system in the UK is at Blyth 400kV substation. The location of the existing Blyth substation is shown on Figure 1.1. 1.4 The project will bring both long and short term local economic benefit; wider benefit to electricity customers in the UK, Norway and continental Europe; and enhance opportunities for the integration of renewable energy to meet climate change targets. 1.5 The project is a joint development between National Grid NSN Link Ltd and Statnett. National Grid NSN Link Ltd. is part of the National Grid group of companies but is separate from National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) which operates the high voltage transmission system in Great Britain and owns the network in England and Wales. Statnett is the Norwegian transmission system owner and operator. ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT FOR NSN LINK 1-1 JULY 2014 Project Overview 1.6 NSN Link comprises three elements: the UK onshore development; the subsea cables (in UK and Norwegian Waters) and the Norwegian development. These components are, for the main part, covered by different consent regimes. UK Onshore 1.7 The UK onshore components of NSN Link are subject to an application for outline planning consent which includes all elements of the proposed development from the Low Water Mark. The red line planning application boundary is shown on Figure 1.2. 1.8 All components are described and assessed in this ES and in brief comprise: High voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea and onshore underground cables; A converter station; and High voltage alternating current (HVAC) underground cables from the converter station to a new 400kV Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) substation. 1.9 A new 400kV GIS substation is proposed adjacent to the existing Blyth 275kV electricity substation. This substation will be owned and operated by NGET and will be subject to a separate planning application. It is assessed in this ES as part of the cumulative assessment UK Marine 1.10 The application for a Marine Licence and its accompanying ES was prepared by Intertek and submitted to the Marine Management Organisation. It addresses the HVDC subsea cables from the mean high water mark to the median line between the UK and Norway. The area between the high water mark and the low water mark, the intertidal area, is an area of ‘overlap’ between the onshore and offshore consenting regimes. A Marine Licence is needed under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 for installation of the subsea cables from the median line to the high water high mark whilst planning permission is also needed under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) for the subsea cables from onshore to the low water mark. This area of overlap between the high water mark and the low water mark is therefore considered in both this ES and the ES for the Marine Licence application (“UK Marine ES”). Norway Onshore 1.11 The elements of NSN Link in Norway (subsea cable between Norwegian landfall and UK/Norway median line and converter station at Kvilldal) were subject to environmental assessment and granted consents in 2001 (then called “North Sea Interconnector”). These consents are regularly reviewed to ensure that they remain current and the information in them valid. Further details on the project in Norway are included in this ES in Chapter 4 with information on the UK consent application presented in Chapter 6. TEN-E Regulations 1.12 On 14 October 2013 under the trans-European energy infrastructure (TEN-E) legislation the European Commission adopted a list of key energy infrastructure projects as ‘Projects of Common Interest.’ NSN Link is identified as part of this list and under the terms of the TEN- ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT FOR NSN LINK 1-2 JULY 2014 E Regulations there is an emerging programme which requires “the coherent application of environmental assessment procedures required under Union law for projects of common interest”. The application of these procedures is complex not only because there are different consenting regimes for the onshore and marine elements but also because the Norwegian element of NSN Link was consented prior to the adoption of the TEN E Regulations. There is also a significant degree of physical separation between the component parts of the development in the UK and in respect of the Norwegian part of the project. These factors significantly limit the benefits of producing a single composite assessment of NSN Link. In these circumstances each of component part of NSN Link has been assessed separately and the in-combination environmental information for each of the components has been drawn together in a ‘Bridging Document’ which will be submitted with each ES. NSN Link Bridging Document 1.13 The combined environmental impacts of the project are considered and assessed in a separate standalone document. This document provides an overview of the consented Norwegian onshore and intertidal area components of the project and an assessment of the combined effects of the Proposed Development for the subsea cables and the UK onshore (and associated connection) elements of NSN Link. Need Case 1.14 It is recognised that in order to have a competitive, sustainable and secure supply of energy, there is a need to invest in new infrastructure and diversify the way in which the UK energy market operates. 1.15 The need for investment in energy infrastructure is reflected in European Policy, and was the main impetus for the formal adoption of the Trans-European Energy (TEN-E) Infrastructure Guidelines on 14th October 2013. They provide a strategic framework for the long-term energy infrastructure provision within the EU and introduce a list of 248 key energy infrastructure projects, known as Projects of Common Interest (PCI) (of which the NSN Link is one), which form an integral part of achieving both the EU’s energy policy goals and economic strategy.