Habitats Regulations Assessment for the Wylfa Newydd: Supplementary Planning Guidance Screening Report Habitats Regulations Assessment – Screening Report Page 2 Contents 1 Introduction 3 1.1 Purpose of the Report 3 1.2 Context 3 1.3 Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Wylfa Newydd SPG 6 1.4 Report Structure 8 2 Approach 9 2.1 Overview 9 2.2 Guidance 10 2.3 Assessing the Draft Wylfa Wylfa Newydd SPG 11 2.4 Baseline Data Collection 13 3 Baseline 14 3.1 European Sites 14 4 Review of Draft Wylfa Newydd SPG 26 4.1 Likely Outcomes and Effects of the Wylfa Newydd SPG 26 4.2 Initial ‘Screening’ of Draft Wylfa Newydd SPG 28 4.3 In Combination Effects 54 5 Conclusions and Next Steps 73 5.1 Assessment Conclusions 73 5.2 Next Steps 73 Appendix A European Sites and Associated Protected Areas 74 Appendix B European Sites and Interest Features 76 Appendix C Interest Feature Abbreviations 81 Habitats Regulations Assessment – Screening Report Page 3 1 Introduction 1.1 Purpose of the Report 1.1.1 The New Nuclear Build at Wylfa: Supplementary Planning Guidance (Wylfa NNB SPG) was adopted by the County Council in July 2014. Since its adoption, there have been a number of important changes that have prompted a need to revise the adopted SPG. 1.1.2 As a result of these changes, the County Council determined that the adopted Wylfa NNB SPG should be revised in order to ensure that it continues to provide a sound basis for guiding decisions on the Wylfa Newydd Project. The County Council therefore consulted on its revised guidance, the Wylfa Newydd: Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) which was then formally adopted on the 15th of May, 2018. 1.1.3 In accordance with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (the ‘Habitats Regulations’), the revised SPG was subject to Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA). This report summarises the assessment of the draft SPG against the conservation objectives of any European sites that may be affected, and provides an overview of the iterative HRA process that has been undertaken to support the SPG’s development and ensure that it meets the requirements of Regulation 63 of the Habitats Regulations. 1.1.4 This report was issued alongside Wylfa Newydd SPG for public consultation. 1.2 Context New Nuclear Build at Wylfa 1.2.1 A site beside the existing operational Magnox nuclear power plant on the Wylfa Peninsula (which totals 300 hectares) has been identified by the UK Government in the National Policy Statement (NPS) for Nuclear Power Generation – EN-6 as a possible site for a new nuclear power station. Horizon Nuclear Power have developed plans to deliver at two UK Advanced Boiling Water Reactors (ABWRs), generating 2,700 MW at Wylfa. 1.2.2 Construction of the new nuclear power station is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) under the Planning Act 2008. Legislation provides that projects like the Newydd at Wylfa are of such potential importance to the UK that a different consenting process to the “normal” grant of planning permission by the local planning authority applies. Under this process, Horizon proposes to submit an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for the power station to the Habitats Regulations Assessment – Screening Report Page 4 Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The application will be made through the Planning Inspectorate who, following examination, will recommend to the Secretary of State whether development consent should be granted or not. The final decision on whether to grant or refuse development consent rests with the Secretary of State. Figure 1.1 Location of the Wylfa Newydd main site 1.2.3 Although the County Council is not the consenting authority for the NSIP, it will seek to ensure that development has regard to the strategic policies and principles of the Development Plan (the Anglesey and Gwynedd Joint Local Development Plan (JLDP) adopted on 31st July 2017), the relevant NPSs, national (Wales) planning policy and guidance and supplementary planning guidance. 1.2.4 The Wales Act 2017 has had important implications for the process by which the Wylfa Newydd project promoter could seek consent for the range of associated development to support the construction and operation of Wylfa Newydd. The Act enables associated development for Welsh energy Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) with a generating capacity of more than 350MW (like Habitats Regulations Assessment – Screening Report Page 5 Wylfa Newydd) to be determined by the relevant Secretary of State as part of a Development Consent Order (DCO) application. Previously, associated development was not covered by the Planning Act 2008 in Wales and would therefore have been determined by the County Council (unless ‘called-in’ by Welsh Ministers). However, Horizon and any other third parties promoting projects related to Wylfa Newydd (for example, enabling works in advance of the approval of a DCO and proposals by other parties to help meet the needs related to Wylfa Newydd) will require consent through the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended). 1.2.5 The project promoter has revised the likely associated / related development required as part of the Wylfa Newydd Project during three stages of formal Pre- Application Consultation (in 2014, 2016 and 2017) relating to the proposals as well an informal ‘Project Update’ consultation in January 2016. Horizon’s third Stage Pre- Application Consultation (PAC 3), consulted on between May and July 2017, set out a number of proposals which included: On-site campus providing temporary workers’ accommodation (Site Campus) for up to 4,000 workers; A temporary Park and Ride facility at Dalar Hir for construction workers; A temporary Logistics Centre at Parc Cybi; A5025 off-line highway improvements; and An electrical connection to the National Grid substation. New Nuclear Build at Wylfa Supplementary Planning Guidance 1.2.6 Supplementary planning guidance is a means of setting out detailed thematic or site specific guidance on the way in which development plan policies will be applied in particular circumstances or areas. The purpose of the Wylfa Newydd SPG is to provide supplementary advice on important local direct or indirect matters and to set out the County Council’s interpretation of national and local policy in the context of the Wylfa Newydd project. 1.2.7 More specifically, the SPG is intended to: Inform the position which will be adopted by the County Council in its Local Impact Report1 and relevant sections of the Statement of Common Ground2; 1 As part of the Planning Act 2008 process, the County Council will be invited to submit a Local Impact Report giving details of the likely impact of the proposed Wylfa Newydd Project on Anglesey. Further information on the preparation of local impact reports is available via the Planning Inspectorate’s website: http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Advice-note-1v2.pdf. Habitats Regulations Assessment – Screening Report Page 6 Provide a planning framework (alongside the Development Plan and other planning policy guidance) that helps guide the applicant(s) and influences the design and development of the Wylfa Newydd Project elements to ensure sustainable outcomes, with a focus on associated development and related development; Inform pre-application discussions related to the main site and associated developments and related development; Offer supplementary local level guidance, consistent with the relevant NPSs, which the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State may consider both important and relevant to the decision-making process; and Form a material consideration in the assessment of any Wylfa Newydd Project related Town and Country planning applications submitted by Horizon or other development promoters and businesses who may have, or wish to pursue, an interest in the project. 1.2.8 The Wylfa Newydd SPG is the subject of this HRA and comprises the following core elements: The County Council’s vision and associated objectives for the Wylfa Newydd project and SPG; Project-wide guidance related to the main potential impacts associated with the project and which is designed to help ensure that associated development is sustainably located, taking account of the existing and emerging evidence base and national and local planning policy; and locational guidance with respect to development at the main Wylfa Newydd Project site and areas of search to help direct associated developments. 1.3 Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Wylfa Newydd SPG Overview 1.3.1 Regulation 63 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (the ‘Habitats Regulations’) states that if a plan or project “(a) is likely to have a significant effect on a European site3 or a European offshore marine site (either alone or in 2 A statement of common ground is a written statement prepared jointly by the applicant and another party or parties such as the County Council, setting out any matters on which they agree. Statements of common ground help focus on the examination of the material differences between the main parties. 3 Strictly, ‘European sites’ are: any Special Area of Conservation (SAC) from the point at which the European Commission and the UK Government agree the site as a ‘Site of Community Importance’ (SCI); any classified Special Protection Area (SPA); any candidate SAC (cSAC); and (exceptionally) any other site or area that the Habitats Regulations Assessment – Screening Report Page 7 combination with other plans or projects); and (b) is not directly connected with or necessary to the management of the site” then the competent authority must “…make an appropriate assessment of the implications for the site in view of that site’s conservation objectives” before deciding to undertake the plan or project; or giving consent, permission or other authorisation.