Agenda item

Outline planning application for the erection of a new 400 kilovolt electricity substation, a converter station, and the laying out of replacement public open space on land to the west and south of Jade Business Park, with all matters reserved

The Committee considered a report of the Senior Planning Officer regarding an outline planning application for the erection of a 400 kilovolt electricity substation, a converter station, and the laying out of replacement public open space on land to the west and south of Jade Business Park, with all matters reserved at Land to Hawthorn Grid Site, Murton (for copy see file of minutes).

C Shields, Senior Planning Officer, gave a detailed presentation on the application which included a site location plan, aerial photographs and site photographs.

With regards to planning history, the Senior Planning Officer confirmed that the report had incorrectly stated that there had been no previous applications on the site, when in fact a similar application to connect the  UK and Norway via an underground cable, had been approved 15 years prior and had lapsed.

Councillor McKeon entered the Council Chamber at 9.37am.

The Senior Planning Officer advised that a further objection had been received after the report had been published and he responded that consultations had been carried out, land owners notified, and issues regarding the need for the scheme had been addressed in the report.

A number of employees from National Grid were in attendance to answer questions from Members. 

In response to a query from Councillor Jopling regarding pollution of the water course, Mr H Smith, National Grid, confirmed that there were two risks that could arise from the application, one of which was during construction and the other during operation.  He confirmed that a series of attached conditions would prevent this during the construction phase and an Environmental Management Plan was included.  There was not expected to be any risk during operation as the nature of the site was such that the only functioning part of the scheme would be that of the electrical equipment inside the building.

N Carter, Planning Development Solicitor noted that Councillor McKeon had entered the meeting slightly late and asked whether she had heard enough of the presentation in order to make a determiation on the application.  Councillor McKeon noted that she considered the presentation was a summary of the contents of the report and as such, she had the necessary information to consider and determine the application.

Councillor Molloy noted the lengthy 38 month construction phase and he asked whether any apprenticeships schemes would be incorporated into those 350 jobs that would be created and also whether this recruitment would benefit the local workforce.

As a Project Manager, Mr G Law confirmed that National Grid regularly recruited the operational workforce from the local area and this included employees of apprenticeships and graduate schemes. With regards to the construction phase, Mr Smith confirmed that a number of temporary jobs would be created along with some highly specialist contractors to provide more specific equipment, however National Grid would recruit companies from the local area and link with communities as this type of schemes tended to be operational for up to 50 years and National Grid wanted to form links with communities, so it was in their interests to recruit local.

As Local Member for Easington, Councillor Boyes, advised that he had been concerned about the impact of the Easington Village conservation area, however he was content with the scale and size of the scheme and although there would be an increased amount of traffic, he considered it would not have a significant impact.  In terms of energy security and resilience, the Council had to support these schemes where possible and he advised that he would accept the offer of a site visit at some point in the future.  Councillor Boyes moved approval of the applications for the reasons outlined in the report.

Councillor Marshall reiterated the importance of this infrastructure with current pressures on the grid and the creation or jobs and benefits to the supply chain.  It was not too contentious and he seconded the motion to approve.

Councillor McKeon considered this a positive scheme to allow County Durham to contribute to the national infrastructure.

Resolved

That application be APPROVED subject to the following conditions and completion of an agreement under Section 39 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to secure biodiversity management for the life of the development.