AQUIND Limited AQUIND INTERCONNECTOR Applicant’s Response to Deadline 1 Submission from persons who have not registered as Interested Parties The Planning Act 2008 Infrastructure Planning (Examination Procedure) Rules 2010 – Rule 17 Document Ref: 7.9.7 PINS Ref.: EN020022 AQUIND Limited AQUIND Limited AQUIND INTERCONNECTOR Applicant’s Response to Deadline 1 Submission from persons who have not registered as Interested Parties PINS REF.: EN020022 DOCUMENT: 7.9.7 DATE: 3 NOVEMBER 2020 WSP WSP House 70 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1AF +44 20 7314 5000 www.wsp.com AQUIND Limited DOCUMENT Document 7.9.7 Applicant’s Response to Deadline 1 Submission from persons who have not registered as Interested Parties Revision 001 Document Owner WSP UK Limited Prepared By Various Date 3 November 2020 Approved By U. Stevenson Date 3 November 2020 AQUIND INTERCONNECTOR PINS Ref.: EN020022 Document Ref.: Applicant’s Response to Deadline 1 Submission from persons who have not registered as Interested Parties November 2020 AQUIND Limited CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1-1 1.1. PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT 1-1 1.2. STRUCTURE OF THE APPLICANT’S RESPONSES 1-1 2. MATTERS RAISED IN WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS RELEVANT TO THE EXAMINATION 2-2 3. MATTERS RAISED IN WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS NOT RELEVANT TO THE EXAMINATION 3-26 TABLES Table 2.1 – Consultation and Communication 2-2 Table 2.2 – Alternatives 2-3 Table 2.3 – Allotments 2-6 Table 2.4 – Travel Disruption and Congestion 2-10 Table 2.5 – Converter Station and ORS Compound 2-15 Table 2.6 – Installation Process 2-16 Table 2.7 – Environmental Effects 2-17 Table 2.8 – Wildlife 2-19 Table 2.9 – Impact on Residents 2-20 Table 2.10 – Rationale for Proposed Development 2-22 Table 2.11 – Regulation and Consents 2-23 Table 2.12 – Economy of Portsmouth 2-24 Table 3.1 – Matters Raised in Written Representations not Relevant to the Examination 3-26 AQUIND INTERCONNECTOR PINS Ref.: EN020022 Document Ref.: Applicant’s Response to Deadline 1 Submission from persons who have not registered as Interested Parties November 2020 AQUIND Limited 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT AQUIND Limited (the Applicant) submitted an application for the AQUIND Interconnector Order (the Order) pursuant to Section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 (as amended) (the PA2008) to the Secretary of State (SoS) on 14 November 2019 (the Application). The Application was accepted by the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) on 12 December 2019, with the Examination of the Application commencing on 08 September 2020 The Application seeks development consent for those elements of AQUIND Interconnector (the Project) located in the UK and the UK Marine Area (the Proposed Development). Written Representations (WRs) from parties not registered as Interested Parties (IPs) were submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (the ‘Inspectorate’) up to and including 12 October 2020. The WRs were published on the Inspectorate’s website on 16 October 2020 in five volumes. On 15 October, the Examining Authority (ExA) issued a letter under Rule 17 of The Infrastructure Planning (Examination Procedure) Rules 2010 requesting that the Applicant provide a response to the relevant issues raised in those representations. In addition, a non-technical summary of matters of a technical nature was requested where necessary to explain any technical matters, as was a list of any themes that the Applicant does not consider to be relevant to the examination or determination of the Application. 1.2. STRUCTURE OF THE APPLICANT’S RESPONSES Section 2 of this Report collates and address the themes raised in the WRs where they are relevant to the Examination. Section 3 of this Report provides a summary of the themes raised that the Applicant does not consider to be relevant to the examination and determination of the Application, together with an explanation of why this is the case. The Applicant was requested to provide a non-technical summary of matters raised in the WRs where necessary to explain technical matters. The Applicant has reviewed the WR and determined that all matters of a technical nature can be appropriately responses to in a non-technical manner, and therefore a non-technical summary is not separately included. AQUIND INTERCONNECTOR WSP PINS Ref.: EN020022 Document Ref.: Applicant’s Response to Deadline 1 Submission from persons who have not registered as Interested Parties November 2020 AQUIND Limited Page 1-1 2. MATTERS RAISED IN WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS RELEVANT TO THE EXAMINATION Table 2.1 – Consultation and Communication Ref. Issue Raised Applicant’s Response 2.1.1 Patchy communication on the project with The Applicant has been undertaking engagement with PCC since 2017. The Applicant has undertaken consultation with Portsmouth City Council (PCC). stakeholders and PCC in accordance with section 42, 47 and 48 of the Planning Act 2008 (‘PA2008’). The Applicant has produced a comprehensive Consultation Report (APP-025) which details pre-application engagement with PCC and other stakeholders. Section 7 of the Consultation Report provides an overview of the initial engagement activities undertaken by the Applicant. This includes two meetings with PCC in April 2017 and September 2017. The Planning Inspectorate considered the consultation undertaken by the Applicant in the s55 checklist issued in October 2019 and were satisfied that it was adequate, hence the application being accepted for Examination on the 12 December 2019. The ExA has ruled on the relevance of the adequacy of the pre-application consultation to the Examination. 2.1.2 Lack of quality engagement with the public. The Applicant has undertaken two extensive public consultations. The first, non-statutory consultation took place in January - Lack of public consultation. February 2018. Following feedback received, the Applicant updated the proposal and has undertaken a second consultation statutory consultation with the local community in accordance with section 47 and 48 of the Planning Act 2008 in February – April 2019. The Planning Inspectorate was satisfied that the Applicant has complied with Chapter 2 of Part 5 (pre-application procedure) of the PA2008. The Applicant has produced a comprehensive Consultation Report (APP-025) which details pre-application engagement with local community and businesses. Section 7 provides an overview of the initial engagement activities, which includes meetings with PCC. Section 8 of the Consultation Report provides an overview of the non-statutory consultation undertaken by the Applicant. In January 2020, following the acceptance of the Application, a community update newsletter has been circulated to those registered to receive updates. The number of subscribers to the newsletter in January 2020 was 467 and it is now 479. The newsletter provided an update on the changes made to the proposals following the analysis of the feedback from the statutory consultation, as well as information on the examination process. In early 2018 the Applicant set up a freephone information helpline - 01962 893869, email address - [email protected] and FREEPOST – AQUIND CONSULTATION, which can be used by anyone to contact the project team. All three methods of communication remain operational. This contact information has been included in all public communications and is easily accessible on the consultation website. 2.1.3 Some parties registered for updates from Aquind, It appears that there is some confusion regarding the difference between the public consultation undertaken by AQUIND, and the and asked to be invited to the consultations they Examination process that is the responsibility of the Inspectorate. All individuals who had registered for updates with AQUIND at had planned, but were never been invited to attend the time of the statutory consultation in February to April 2019 received invitations to participate in the consultation, details of which any meetings, and now it is understood some have can be found in Chapter 14.3 of the Consultation Report (APP-025). AQUIND has complied with its requirements to publicise the taken place without their knowledge. Section 56 process for registration of Interested Parties, including publication of newspaper notices, via the project website and AQUIND INTERCONNECTOR WSP PINS Ref.: EN020022 Document Ref.: Applicant’s Response to Deadline 1 Submission from persons who have not registered as Interested Parties November 2020 AQUIND Limited Page 2-2 Ref. Issue Raised Applicant’s Response within the Acceptance Update Newsletter issued in January 2018. However, it is not the responsibility of AQUIND to inform all parties registered of updates to the Examination timetable and forthcoming hearings. This is the responsibility of the ExA. 2.1.4 Residents and users of Langstone Harbour (such The Applicant has undertaken consultation with the local community in accordance with section 47 and 48 of the Planning Act as dog walkers, runners, fisherman, and leisure 2008. boaters) have not been consulted nor questioned Community stakeholders that use, live or are located around Langstone Harbour were consulted to provide opportunity for input. regarding whether they would welcome works. Amongst others, organisations such as Langstone Harbour, Langstone Harbour Fishermen’s Association, Tudor Sailing Club, Langstone Sailing Club, Southsea Angling Club, Southsea Marina, Lock Sailing Club, Hayling Island Sailing Club, Portsmouth Lifeboat Station, Portsmouth University and Kendall’s Wharf Aggregates were consulted, as were many residents that live in proximity to Langstone