Non Technical Summary - National Infrastructure …

1 May 2014 Application Reference Point C Connection ProjectEnvironmental Statement Non- Technical SummaryRegulation 5(2)(a) of the Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 1 Hinkley Point C Connection Project ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT MAY 2014 VOLUME , NON- Technical Summary Hinkley Point C Connection Project Volume 2 3 Document Control Document Properties Organisation National Grid Author Heidi Curran, TEP Approved By Bobby Clayton, TEP Title Environmental Statement Non- Technical Summary Document Reference Volume Date Version Status Description/Changes 09/05/2014 A Live Final version for DCO submission Hinkley Point C Connection Project Volume 4 5 Table of Contents 1.

2 INTRODUCTION .. 7 2. BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT .. 13 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT .. 19 4. PLANNING POLICY .. 27 5. EIA APPROACH AND METHOD .. 31 6. LANDSCAPE .. 37 7. VISUAL EFFECTS .. 51 8. BIODIVERSITY AND NATURE CONSERVATION .. 61 9. GROUND ENVIRONMENT .. 73 10. HYDROLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES .. 81 11. HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT .. 91 12. TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT .. 99 13. AIR QUALITY AND EMISSIONS .. 105 14. NOISE AND VIBRATION .. 111 15. SOCIO-ECONOMICS AND LAND USE .. 121 16. ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS .. 131 17. CUMULATIVE EFFECTS .. 135 Hinkley Point C Connection Project Volume 6 7 1.

3 INTRODUCTION General Introduction This document provides a Summary of an Environmental Statement (ES) which accompanies an application by National Grid Electricity Transmission plc ( National Grid) to seek powers to construct, operate and maintain a new 400,000 volt (400kV) connection, between Bridgwater, Somerset and Seabank Substation, north of Avonmouth together with a range of related modifications to the electricity transmission and distribution networks ( the Proposed Development ). That part of the Proposed Development that comprises an electric line above ground is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP).

4 Under Section 37 of the Planning Act 2008, the consenting process requires an application to be submitted for a Development Consent Order (DCO). The ES presents the findings of an assessment of the effects of the Proposed Development on the environment and explains the measures used to avoid or reduce adverse effects. The Applicant National Grid operates the high voltage electricity transmission system in Great Britain and owns the system in England and Wales. The system operates mainly at 400,000 and 275,000 volts, connecting the electricity generators to substations where the high voltages are transformed to lower voltages, enabling the power to be distributed to homes and businesses by Distribution Network Operators (DNO) who operate at a maximum of 132,000 volts.

5 In the area of the Proposed Development, the DNO is Western Power Distribution (WPD). National Grid is required, under the terms of the Electricity Act, 1989, to have regard to the desirability of preserving the environment and to do what it reasonably can to reduce the effects on the environment when putting together new proposals to transmit electricity. Project Need EDF Energy has been granted a Development Consent Order for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point. A number of other projects such as offshore wind farms are also proposed. These low carbon energy projects will help meet the country s increasing demand for energy in a sustainable way.

6 It is National Grid s role to connect these new electricity generators to the network so that all can benefit from the energy they produce. It needs to provide additional electricity capacity in the South West to ensure these new connections are safe and reliable. Following Technical , economic and environmental studies and options appraisals, National Grid proposes that the best way to provide this additional capacity is to remove the existing 132,000 volt overhead electricity line owned by WPD and build Hinkley Point C Connection Project Volume 8 a new 400,000 volt connection between Bridgwater and Seabank.

7 This new connection is referred to as the Proposed Development. A detailed explanation of the need for the Proposed Development is provided in Volume Project Overview The Proposed Development is in the administrative boundaries of the county of Somerset, the districts of, West Somerset, Sedgemoor, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire and the City of Bristol in the southwest of England as shown at Inset 9 Inset : Location Plan of Proposed Development The Proposed Development would include the following main elements: construction of a 57km 400kV electricity transmission connection between Bridgwater in Somerset and Seabank, near Avonmouth, comprising: o installation of a 400kV overhead line; and o installation of 400kV underground cables.

8 Hinkley Point C Connection Project Volume 10 modifications to existing overhead lines at Hinkley Point, Somerset; construction of three 400kV cable sealing end (CSE) compounds along the route of the connection; construction of a 400/132kV substation at Sandford, North Somerset; extension of the existing 400kV substation at Seabank; the removal of existing 132kV overhead lines and the construction of replacement 132kV overhead lines and 132kV underground cables; extensions or other changes to existing 132kV substations at Churchill, Portishead, Avonmouth and Seabank; and associated works, for example, temporary access roads, highway works, temporary construction compounds, scaffolding, work sites and ancillary works.

9 For most of its length, the 400kV overhead line would be supported by the new T-pylon , as illustrated in Inset Inset : The T-Pylon (Photomontage) Policy and Legislation The environmental impact assessment (EIA) process and the published ES are subject to a number of legal and policy requirements. Regulations set out when EIA is required and identify the information which should be provided. Nationally significant Infrastructure projects such as the Proposed Development are determined in accordance with National planning policy (NPS). National planning policy also contains principles for EIA.

10 National planning policy for energy projects is led by the Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1) ( ). EN-1 recognises that Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects for energy could have significant effects on the environment. It sets out Assessment Principles which give guidance on what should be included in an EIA and how the findings should be presented in the ES. EN-1 includes suggestions for mitigation measures which are ways to reduce negative (adverse) effects where they cannot be avoided. 11 National Policy Statement for Electricity Networks Infrastructure (EN-5) ( )), sets out more Assessment Principles which are specifically related to Electricity Infrastructure projects.