Wylfa Newydd: Supplementary Planning Guidance May 2018 Wylfa Newydd: Supplementary Planning Guidance Contents 1 Introduction 1 1.1 The Wylfa Newydd: Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) 2 1.2 Sustainable Development 4 1.3 The Wylfa Newydd Project 9 1.4 Purpose of this SPG 12 1.5 PreperationPreparation of this SPG 14 1.6 Structure of this SPG 19 1.7 Consultation 20 2 Policy Framework 21 2.1 UK National Policy Statements 21 2.2 National Policy (Wales) 22 2.3 Local Policies and Strategies 23 3 Vision and Objectives 29 3.1 Vision 29 3.2 Objectives 30 4 Project Wide Guidance 44 4.1 Economic Development 45 4.2 Tourism 55 4.3 Population and Community 59 4.4 Construction Worker Accommodation and Anglesey’s Housing Market 69 4.5 Welsh Language and Culture 82 4.6 Transport 85 4.7 Utilities 90 4.8 Waste 93 4.9 Climate Change 96 4.10 Natural Environment 101 4.11 Historic Environment 107 4.12 Facilitating Development 109 4.13 Implementation and Monitoring 114 5 Locational Guidance 118 5.1 North Anglesey 123 www.ynysmon.gov.uk www.anglesey.gov.uk Wylfa Newydd: Supplementary Planning Guidance Main Wylfa Newydd Site 131 Amlwch and Environs 143 Cemaes and Environs 154 A5025 Corridor 165 5.2 Rest of Anglesey 175 Holyhead and Environs 179 Llangefni and Environs 193 A55 / A5 Corridor 201 Anglesey Coast and Rural Hinterland 213 www.ynysmon.gov.uk www.anglesey.gov.uk Wylfa Newydd: Supplementary Planning Guidance Foreword The new nuclear power station at Wylfa (currently known as and referred to as Wylfa Newydd), along with other major developments proposed on Anglesey, present a once in a lifetime opportunity to transform the economy and communities of the Island. To help secure such transformation, and to ensure that any adverse effects associated with the foreseen developments are fully considered and mitigated, there is a need for specific Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG). In this context, the New Nuclear Build at Wylfa: Supplementary Planning Guidance (Wylfa NNB SPG) was adopted by Isle of Anglesey County Council (the County Council) in July 2014. Such guidance has to be placed in the context of UK and Welsh Government national policies, and build upon and complement existing local policy. It must therefore be comprehensive given the scale and wide-ranging nature and implications of Wylfa Newydd, and be based upon a robust evidence base. Since adoption of the Wylfa NNB SPG in July 2014, there have been substantial changes to legislation, national (Wales) and local policy as well as to the proposed Wylfa Newydd Project itself. As a result of these changes, the County Council has determined that the adopted SPG should be revised in order to ensure that it continues to provide a sound basis for guiding decisions on masterplanning, design and the efficient delivery of the Wylfa Newydd Project. The purpose of the revised SPG to be called the Wylfa Newydd: Supplementary Planning Guidance (Wylfa Newydd SPG) is to provide supplementary advice on important local direct or indirect matters and to set out the County Council’s response to national and local policy and strategies in the context of the Wylfa Newydd Project. The SPG will enable the County Council to play its full role in the planning consent processes for Wylfa Newydd, be it as a consultee for the Development Consent Order (DCO) application, or in its consideration of Town and Country Planning Act applications for related developments or third party development proposals linked to the Wylfa Newydd Project. The SPG will be particularly relevant for informing the preparation of the County Council’s Local Impact Report, submitted as part of to the DCO examination process as well as informing and underpinning other relevant written representations and planning requirements/obligations for the New Nuclear Build Project. The Wylfa Newydd SPG will not only provide part of a framework for future decisions by the County Council, but it will also help to inform the project promoter (and any other third party applicant) proposals and decision making by providing clarity in relation to the County Council’s aspirations and expectations of the proposed Wylfa Newydd Project. The Wylfa Newydd Project will have important implications for the Island’s economy, its communities and environment. The County Council is committed to ensuring that the potential adverse impacts of www.ynysmon.gov.uk www.anglesey.gov.uk Wylfa Newydd: Supplementary Planning Guidance the main Wylfa Newydd Project site, its associated developments and any related developments are identified and wherever possible avoided. Where adverse impacts cannot be avoided, the County Council’s expectation (reflected in this SPG) will be for the project promoter or any other applicant to implement appropriate mitigation and/or compensation measures. The County Council will also seek to ensure that the socio-economic benefits related to the construction and operation of the new power station are fully realised in order to provide long term support to the Island and its communities. In this context, the Wylfa Newydd SPG is underpinned by, and also seeks to enhance, benefits associated with the Wylfa Newydd Project. The Joint Local Development Plan (JLDP) covers both the Gwynedd Local Planning Authority area and the Isle of Anglesey and the policies relating to all elements of the project apply to all of the plan area; this SPG however covers the area of Anglesey only. This reflects the evolution of this guidance. This guidance is a revision of the 2014 SPG, which pre-dated the JLDP and applied in Anglesey only. The SPG has been revised and updated to reflect the now adopted JLDP and the emerging detail of the promoter’s proposals for the Wylfa Newydd Project. The County Council has relied on and referred to the 2014 SPG in its earlier consultation responses on the project proposals and care has been taken to limit change to this SPG so that consistency on the principles set out is maintained and the advice already given by the County Council remains applicable. Gwynedd Council will rely on the policies of the JLDP. www.ynysmon.gov.uk www.anglesey.gov.uk Wylfa Newydd: Supplementary Planning Guidance 1 1 Introduction 1.1.1 The UK Government is committed to meeting its legally binding target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels1. Welsh Government Ministers also have a duty to ensure the net Welsh emissions in 2050 are 80% lower than the existing baseline in 2050.2 As a low carbon source of energy, the UK Government has clearly stated that nuclear power generation has an important role to play in the diversification and decarbonisation of electricity demand. Nuclear power generation can also help to ensure the resilience of the UK’s energy supply. 1.1.2 It is UK Government policy3 that nuclear power should be able to contribute significantly to the national need for new supply capacity as part of an energy mix that includes renewables and fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage. Furthermore, the UK Government considers it important for new nuclear development to be operational as soon as possible. This is reiterated in the Overarching National Policy Statement (NPS) for Energy – EN-1 (2011) and the UK Government has published a National Policy Statement (NPS) for Nuclear Power Generation – EN-6 (2011) in order to clarify policy and to assist in facilitating the delivery of new power stations in a timely manner. 1.1.3 NPS EN-6 identifies eight potentially suitable sites for new nuclear development, one of which is located on the Wylfa Peninsula adjacent to the former Magnox power station, which ceased generating on 30 December 2015. Development of the new nuclear power station site at Wylfa (Wylfa Newydd) is currently being pursued by Horizon Nuclear Power (“project promoter”). 1.1.4 The Welsh Government, through its low carbon transition strategy4, and the Isle of Anglesey County Council (the County Council), both recognise the important contribution new nuclear power can make to the UK’s energy mix and security of electricity supply and both support the principle of development of a new nuclear power station at Wylfa. They also anticipate that the development of a new nuclear power station at Wylfa and associated developments (which, for the purposes of this document, are termed the ‘Wylfa Newydd Project’) will be a fundamental driver for long term, sustainable economic growth on Anglesey and in the wider North Wales region. 1 As established in the Climate Change Act 2008. 2 As established in the Environment (Wales) Act 2016. 3 See HM Government (2011) The Carbon Plan: Delivering Our Low Carbon Future: DECC: London. 4 Welsh Government (2012) Energy Wales: A Low Carbon Transition. Welsh Government: Cardiff. www.ynysmon.gov.uk www.anglesey.gov.uk Wylfa Newydd: Supplementary Planning Guidance 2 The key strategic importance of the Wylfa Newydd Project is fully recognised in the County Council’s Energy Island Programme (EIP) and Welsh Government Enterprise Zone5 which together aim to create a geographical hub of excellence for the development, implementation and servicing of low carbon energy initiatives. 1.1.5 It is anticipated that the EIP could contribute to facilitating up to £2.5 billion to the Anglesey and North Wales economies over the next 15 years, providing an unprecedented opportunity to deliver sustainable and substantial long-term benefits to the socio-economic fabric of the Island and region. 1.1.6 In September 2017, the Welsh Government published Prosperity for All: The National Strategy; that sets out how Welsh Government will deliver the Programme for Government. It takes the commitments in the Programme for Government and sets out how they will be delivered by bringing together the efforts of the whole Welsh public sector.