HVDC Cable Route Scoping Report 2016.04.25_NorthConnect_PER_REP_HVDC Scoping Report_ Rev A Last approval: 2016.04.25 Date: By: Control: Approved by: 2016.04.25 2016-04-25_NorthConnect_PER_REP_HVDC Scoping Report_Rev A Contents GLOSSARY ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 4 2 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................................. 7 2.1 NORTHCONNECT JOINT VENTURE .................................................................................... 7 2.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ...................................................................................................... 7 2.3 SCOPE OF PLANNING AND MARINE LICENSE APPLICATION ........................................... 8 2.3.1 Onshore Cabling .............................................................................................................................. 8 2.3.2 Horizontal Directional Drilling ................................................................................................ 9 2.3.3 Offshore Cabling ........................................................................................................................... 10 2.3.4 Fibre Optic Utility Building ..................................................................................................... 10 2.3.5 Temporary Construction Requirements ............................................................................ 10 2.4 LOCATION .......................................................................................................................... 11 2.4.1 Landfall and Onshore Cable Corridor................................................................................. 11 2.4.2 Offshore Corridor ......................................................................................................................... 12 2.5 PROJECT PHASES .............................................................................................................. 12 2.5.1 Programme ..................................................................................................................................... 12 2.5.2 Construction and Installation ................................................................................................ 13 2.5.3 Operation and Maintenance ................................................................................................... 13 2.5.4 Decommissioning ......................................................................................................................... 13 3 CONSENTING PERMITTING AND LICENSE PROCESS ................................................. 15 3.1 MARINE LICENCE.............................................................................................................. 15 3.2 MARINE PRE-APPLICATION CONSULTATION (PAC) ................................................... 15 3.3 PLANNING CONSENT ........................................................................................................ 15 3.4 EUROPEAN PROTECTED SPECIES (EPS) LICENCE ........................................................ 15 3.5 HABITATS REGULATION APPRAISAL (HRA)................................................................. 16 3.6 THE WATER ENVIRONMENT REGULATIONS ................................................................. 16 3.7 DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT ....................................................... 17 3.7.1 Planning Policy ............................................................................................................................. 17 3.7.2 Marine Planning ........................................................................................................................... 18 3.7.3 Proposed Assessment ................................................................................................................. 20 4 CUMULATIVE .......................................................................................................................... 21 5 AIR QUALITY ........................................................................................................................... 25 5.1 POLICY AND GUIDANCE .................................................................................................... 25 5.2 BASELINE........................................................................................................................... 25 5.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS ........................................................................................................ 25 5.3.1 Installation ...................................................................................................................................... 25 5.3.2 Operation ......................................................................................................................................... 26 5.3.3 Decommissioning ......................................................................................................................... 26 5.4 PROPOSED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT .................................................... 26 5.4.1 Dust .................................................................................................................................................... 26 5.4.2 Carbon Dioxide .............................................................................................................................. 26 6 ARCHAEOLOGY AND CULTURAL HERITAGE ................................................................ 28 6.1 POLICY AND GUIDANCE .................................................................................................... 28 6.2 BASELINE........................................................................................................................... 28 2016-04-25_NorthConnect_PER_REP_HVDC Scoping Report_Rev A 6.2.1 Onshore ............................................................................................................................................. 28 6.2.2 Offshore ............................................................................................................................................ 32 6.3 POTENTIAL IMPACTS ........................................................................................................ 32 6.3.1 Construction and Installation ................................................................................................ 32 6.3.2 Operation ......................................................................................................................................... 32 6.3.3 Decommissioning ......................................................................................................................... 33 6.4 PROPOSED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT .................................................... 33 7 ECOLOGY AND NATURE CONSERVATION...................................................................... 34 7.1 APPLICABLE POLICIES & GUIDANCE............................................................................... 34 7.2 DESIGNATED SITES ........................................................................................................... 34 7.3 BASELINE........................................................................................................................... 36 7.3.1 Habitat Types ................................................................................................................................ 36 7.3.2 Bats ..................................................................................................................................................... 37 7.3.3 Otters ................................................................................................................................................. 37 7.3.4 Water Vole ...................................................................................................................................... 37 7.3.5 Badgers ............................................................................................................................................. 37 7.3.6 Amphibians and Reptiles .......................................................................................................... 38 7.3.7 Ornithology ..................................................................................................................................... 38 7.3.8 Marine Mammals ......................................................................................................................... 39 7.3.9 Fish ..................................................................................................................................................... 39 7.3.10 Benthic Ecology ....................................................................................................................... 40 7.4 POTENTIAL IMPACTS ........................................................................................................ 40 7.4.1 Construction and Installation ................................................................................................ 40 7.4.2 Operation ......................................................................................................................................... 42 7.4.3 Decommissioning ........................................................................................................................