Meaford Energy Centre Section 47 Planning Act 2008 Statement of Community Consultation

Transcription

1 Meaford Energy Centre Section 47 Planning Act 2008 Statement of Community Consultation

2 Contents 1. Introduction 2. Meaford Energy Limited 3. Development of a detailed design 4. Meaford Energy Centre: Power Island 5. Meaford Energy Centre: Gas connection 6. Meaford Energy Centre: Electrical connection 7. Assessing the affects of the Meaford Energy Centre 8. The Planning Inspectorate 9. The importance of pre-application consultation 10. Non-statutory consultation to date 11. Environmental Scoping 12. Statutory consultation under Section 47 of the Planning Act Indicative timetable 14. Our consultation area 15. Feedback 16. Other relevant consultations 17. Further information

3 1. Introduction 1.1. The Meaford Energy Centre (MEC) is a combined cycle gas turbine power station (CCGT) that has a generating capacity of up to 299MWe and is designated as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). NSIPs are large projects that support the national economy and vital services, and meet specific individual criteria set out in the Planning Act In this case, Section 15 of the Planning Act 2008 states that any onshore generation station with a capacity of over 50 megawatts (MW) is considered an NSIP The Planning Act 2008 requires that proposers of NSIP projects apply for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for the development, and the Localism Act 2011 confers responsibility to examine DCO applications to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS). Meaford Energy Limited (MEL) will therefore submit a DCO application to PINS. The decision on whether or not to grant a DCO will be taken by the relevant Secretary of State, in this case the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Consulting the community living in the vicinity of proposed NSIP projects forms an integral element of the DCO consenting process This document is presented in two parts. Part 1 explains MEL s proposals for the MEC and the context in which the company is statutorily consulting the community on proposals. Part 2 sets out MEL s Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC) notice MEL will statutorily consult the community between 6 June 2014 and 7 July 2014 (32 days). 2. Meaford Energy Limited 2.1. Meaford Energy Limited (MEL) is a joint venture partnership between Glenfinnan, a property investment and development company with extensive energy sector experience, and St. Modwen, one of the UK s largest regeneration specialists. St. Modwen also owns the Meaford Business Park, where it is proposed that the MEC is located. The partnership is currently progressing a number of CCGT power generation projects across the UK.

4 3. Development of a detailed design 3.1. MEL has developed detailed proposals, including designs for the MEC. The proposals have been informed by comprehensive technical and environmental studies, as well as non-statutory consultation undertaken with local stakeholders between 24 September 2013 and 1 November 2013, as well as discussions and meetings held since with the Stafford Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council and local resident groups A combined CCGT power station with a nominal generating capacity of up to 299MWe would: Provide 30 highly skilled permanent local jobs Create up to 800 construction jobs over three years Deliver the catalyst to progress the development of Meaford Business Park, creating further jobs in the area Reduce the area s reliance on imported electricity and improving its energy security. 4. Meaford Energy Centre: The Power Island 4.1. The Power Island is the name given to the buildings and plant that collectively make up the MEC itself. The Power Island comprises, but is not limited to: Turbine halls that house gas turbines that spin the generators to produce power Heat recovery steam generators that utilise the waste heat from the gas turbines to create steam for use within the steam turbine/s to generate additional power Stacks that disperse emissions including water vapour and CO 2 /NO x An air cooled condenser to return steam generated by the plant to water A substation and electrical transformers used for electricity transmission/distribution Demineralised water plants and storage tanks Buildings used for administration, maintenance and general purposes The Power Island is proposed to be located on the Meaford Business Park.

5 4.3. During its voluntary, non-statutory stage of consultation, MEL presented three possible locations for the MEC on the Meaford Business Park and also asked consultees to suggest other potential sites. These options were described as the North Site, Central Site and South Site The feedback received indicated a preference for the South Site. Based on this expressed preference and MEL s own initial studies and surveys, detailed plans have been developed for the Power Island on the South Site. 5. Meaford Energy Centre: Gas connection 5.1. To supply the fuel required by the MEC to generate electricity, a connection to the national gas network is required The nearest connection can be made via an existing underground pipeline located to the north and running along the eastern boundary of the Meaford Business Park and south of Barlaston Village The gas connection will take the form of a pipeline measuring approximately 1km in length. This pipeline will travel southwards from its connection with an above-ground installation (AGI) and into Meaford Business Park to the MEC. The AGI is a compound that contains existing gas distribution infrastructure. The pipeline will be underground except for where it crosses the Trent and Mersey Canal and railway line via existing bridges The MEC s gas connection is part of and integral to the NSIP. 6. Meaford Energy Centre: Electrical connection 6.1. To export the power it generates, MEC will require an electrical connection to the local electricity distribution network The MEC s electrical connection will be provided by a new buried cable between the MEC and an existing substation located on the Meaford Business Park. This substation is owned and maintained by Western Power Distribution. The connection will make best use of existing infrastructure such as distribution towers and the substation. This forgoes the need for new pylon routes, reducing the overall impact on the local environment The MEC's electrical connection is part of and integral to the NSIP. 7. Assessing the affects of the Meaford Energy Centre

6 7.1. Schedule 1 of the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2009, as amended by the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2012, classifies MEL s proposals as a development requiring environmental impact assessment. To allow for full and meaningful consultation MEL will produce a Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR). The PEIR will outline any significant anticipated environmental effects of the proposals and potential mitigation measures. The PEIR will be made available at the start of statutory consultation. 8. The Planning Inspectorate 8.1. PINS is the government-delegated agency responsible for managing the examination process for DCO applications. It was granted this power on 1 April 2012, under provisions made in the Localism Act PINS will receive MEL s DCO application, undertake a thorough public examination of its content and then make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. It is the Secretary of State who will ultimately decide the application The determination process comprises six distinct stages: Pre-application Acceptance Pre-examination Examination Decision Post-decision 8.4. PINS provides information about each stage on its website - infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/application-process. A summary of each stage is provided below At the pre-application stage, developers may undertake non-statutory consultation but must undertake statutory consultation with stakeholders, including the local community. After this they finalise their plans and submit a DCO application to PINS. MEL is currently at this stage At the acceptance stage, PINS will review MEL s DCO application to ensure that all necessary documents have been supplied and that sufficient public consultation has been undertaken. It will then make a decision on whether to accept the application for detailed examination At the pre-examination stage, PINS will invite all those who may have an interest in the proposals to register with it. During this time, PINS will set

7 a date for a Preliminary Meeting, marking the start of the Examination stage, where a timetable for the examination of the DCO application will be agreed At the examination stage, PINS will ask for further written comments from anyone who has registered an interest in the MEC. It will also hold one or more public hearings at which registered parties can make further comments in person. These will inform the final recommendation made by PINS to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change At the decision stage, PINS will have three months to make its recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. The Secretary of State will then have a further three months to make a final decision on MEL s proposals After a decision has been made, there will be an opportunity to challenge the Secretary of State s decision for up to six weeks It can take up to 16 months from the acceptance of the DCO application to the Secretary of State making his or her decision PINS makes its recommendations in accordance with the relevant National Policy Statements (NPSs). NPSs set out and explain Government Policy on their respective subjects and also set out the criteria against which NSIPs will be assessed. In this instance, the relevant energy NPSs are: EN-1 Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy EN-2 Fossil Fuel Electricity Generating Infrastructure NPS EN-4 Gas Supply Infrastructure and Gas and Oil Pipelines NPS EN-5 Electricity Networks Infrastructure For more information on PINS, visit infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk. 9. The importance of pre-application consultation 9.1. Meaningful pre-application consultation with the community those who live or work in the vicinity of the proposals - brings benefits with it. Developers can benefit from the community s detailed knowledge of the local area and account for this when developing their proposals. Importantly it allows the community to scrutinise the proposals ahead of submission, aiding the production of proposals that are, where appropriate, sympathetic to their suggestions. Developers are required to demonstrate how all suggestions made have been considered and how the proposals have evolved as a consequence.

8 10. Non-statutory consultation to date As stated, ahead of statutory consultation commencing, MEL undertook an extensive, voluntary, initial stage of non-statutory consultation between 24 September 2013 and 1 November This stage of consultation focussed specifically on raising awareness of MEL s proposals for the MEC, introducing the concept of a CCGT power station on the Meaford Business Park and encouraging stakeholders to register to participate at the statutory consultation stage One of the benefits of introducing stakeholders to the MEC project in this manner has been to allow them to raise specific matters so that these can be addressed by the project team ahead of detailed proposals, including designs, being produced. In summary, MEL s non-statutory consultation found: Significant support within the local community for a CCGT power station on the Meaford Business Park That there is a preference among consultees for the South Site to be chosen as the location for the MEC The gas connection is generally seen as being an unobtrusive element of the proposals Although not connected directly to the proposals for the MEC, the proposed alterations to the highways to improve the access to the Meaford Business Park was raised during the consultation process and discussions are ongoing between Staffordshire County Council (the Highways Authority) and St. Modwen along with the Meaford Road Residents Association MEL s Stage One Feedback Report summarises the approach to nonstatutory consultation, the activity undertaken, the feedback received and MEL s initial response at the time. The report can be downloaded from Environmental Scoping MEL has submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report to PINS in February Scoping is an early stage of the environmental impact assessment process and is designed to ensure that the environmental studies consider all the relevant factors and provide all the relevant information required to assess the potential significant effects of the proposed development MEL s Scoping Report, and PINS s Scoping Opinion, can be viewed at

9 12. Statutory Consultation under Section 47 of the Planning Act The Planning Act 2008 aims to ensure that full and effective consultation is carried out with communities that could be affected by an NSIP development, to ensure that their views are taken into account as far as practicable. Section 47 of the Act sets out the legislative requirements for consultation with the public To facilitate community engagement, a Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC) is required that sets out what will be done to consult the community on the proposals The MEC s SoCC has been prepared in consultation with Stafford Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council, both of which have experience in undertaking consultation exercises such as this and have advised on the most appropriate methods to employ to ensure that as many potentially interested parties as possible are reached As required by Section 47 of the Planning Act 2008, Stafford Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council were consulted on MEL s draft SoCC between 19 March 2014 and 15 April 2014, and responded on 14 and 15 April 2014 respectively. Both local authorities confirmed they agreed with the approach set out in this document. 13. Indicative Timetable Set out below is an indicative timetable of activities to be carried out on the MEC project, which could be subject to change. Any changes to the timetable will be publicised on the project website at Energy.com. 6 June 2014 to 7 July 2014 statutory consultation (32 days). Following submission of the DCO application respondents must register with PINS to submit further comments (this can be done via the PINS website Autumn 2014 submission of DCO application to PINS Autumn 2014 to winter 2014/5 PINS considers DCO application Spring to summer 2016 recommendation from PINS to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of State s decision MEL will explain this timetable and the DCO consenting process clearly in all relevant consultation materials.

10 14. Our Consultation Area The Planning Act 2008 stipulates that applicants must consult with people living in the vicinity of the land. The MEC proposals are likely to generate interest in the community. Therefore MEL has defined a geographical consultation area; the Core Consultation Zone. Comments and suggestions from outside this zone are also welcome and will be given equal weighting The Core Consultation Zone comprises those areas closest to the proposals for which a DCO is being sought, for example, if they contain or abut proposed infrastructure. MEL has identified an area around the MEC and proposed infrastructure that constitutes the Core Consultation Zone. This area follows the boundaries of the consultation zone that previously was agreed with Stafford Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council in Meaford Energy Limited's non-statutory Consultation Plan. Given the location of this Core Consultation Zone, MEL has identified that the following parish council areas that are included within this zone: Stone Rural (site) Barlaston Stone The residents and businesses within the Core Consultation Zone and the parish councils identified above are therefore considered Core Consultees as they could be affected by MEL s DCO application. A primary focus of the consultation will be ensuring that Core Consultees have multiple opportunities to engage with the project team about the MEC proposals The project might be of interest to those who are not directly affected by the proposals or may not live, or be based, within the Core Consultation Zone. The communication of MEL s consultation activity has been designed so that it will raise awareness of the MEC proposals amongst a significantly larger audience than just those living or working in the Core Consultation Zone by, for example, utilising local and regional media including news websites and newspapers MEL will consult those living or working in the Core Consultation Zone using multiple methods of communication. The consultation will not be reliant on any one method, rather, they will work together to ensure consultees are provided with varied opportunities to participate. These include: A consultation website ( on which all relevant supporting documents will be made

11 available. The website will serve as the most up to date source of project information. A project leaflet detailing the proposed MEC scheme will be produced and distributed by post to all residential and commercial addresses in the Core Consultation Zone, identified using address software and Royal Mail's Postcode Address File [3,669 addresses]. It will include a feedback form, provide contact details for MEL and include details on where further information can be found. This will also be made available to take away from exhibition events and meetings and will also be sent to identified consultees and all those who previously registered an interest in the MEC project. Public exhibitions will be held at accessible venues located within the vicinity of the MEC proposals, with a focus on those communities closest to the MEC site and its gas connection. Members of the community will be given advance notice of the exhibition events. At the events, members of the community will be able to view supporting project documents, display boards detailing the proposals, and other supporting visual materials. The events will allow members of the public to speak directly to members of the MEL team, ask questions, and suggest changes that could improve the scheme. There will also be the opportunity to provide written suggestions and comments. Each event will provide comprehensive information on the overall proposals. The event details are provided below: Venue Lakeside Tavern, Function Room, Meaford Road, Stone, Staffordshire ST15 8UX Time and date Wednesday 11 June pm to 8pm Barlaston Village Hall, 1 Longton Road, Barlaston, Staffordshire ST12 9AA Thursday 12 June pm to 8pm If required a presentation will be given to relevant stakeholders at Stafford Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council ahead of launching consultation. Presentations during the consultation period will be offered to Stone Rural, Barlaston and Stone parish councils. Local media will be issued with a press release at the launch of statutory consultation and follow up press releases will be issued where appropriate.

12 MEL will write to and provide copies of the project leaflet to elected representatives of areas affected by the proposals, such as ward councillors and the Member of Parliament, offering meetings during the consultation period. Inspection copies of documentation will be displayed at venues agreed with Stafford Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council. The information to be made available will include, but not be limited to, the PEIR (including its Non-technical Summary), plans and diagrams of the proposals, the Stage One Non-statutory Consultation Feedback Report and supporting technical notes. This information will also be made available on the project s website in the Library section at Deposit Location Staffordshire County Council St. Chads Place Stafford ST16 2LR Stafford Borough Council Civic Centre Riverside Stafford ST16 3AQ Stone Library High Street Stone Staffordshire ST15 8AT Opening hours Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday: 8.30am to 5pm Friday: 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday: 9am to 5pm Tuesday: 9am to 6pm Wednesday: 9am to 1pm Thursday: 9am to 5pm Friday: 9am to 6pm Saturday: 9am to 4pm 15. Responding to the consultation All comments and suggestions made will be considered and where appropriate reflected in the design and assessment of the proposals, although engineering and operational requirements will not always allow this. Responses can be provided through the following channels: A freepost address for written responses: Meaford Energy Limited, Local Dialogue, FREEPOST NAT3717, London, SE1 2BR A Freephone project information line staffed during working hours: A project address: info@meaford-energy.com Feedback forms available at public events An online comment form hosted at

13 15.2. It should be noted that once a DCO application has been submitted all comments should be made to PINS and interested parties must register either in writing to PINS or via Infrastructure.PlanningPortal.gov.uk The responses submitted to MEL as part of its consultation process will inform PINS s examination of the proposals. Therefore, all comments received during the statutory consultation will be submitted to PINS on an unattributed basis. To aid this process, consultees will be encouraged to supply written feedback rather than, for example, verbal feedback The consultation will account for hard-to-reach groups. It may be necessary to communicate, in a slightly different way, to groups with additional needs, for example, by providing large print materials to visually impaired members of the community All of the comments and suggestions received by MEL will be given consideration in finalising the design of the scheme and the DCO application. The way in which the scheme has evolved to reflect consultation responses will be summarised in a Consultation Report to be submitted with a DCO application. 16. Other relevant consultations MEL will take into account any consultations on other NSIPs or HS2 in the Stone and Meaford area and plan its consultation accordingly. For example, MEL recognises that consultees could suffer from consultation fatigue if public events for different projects are planned for the same days Consultation is being undertaken by Staffordshire County Council on local highways improvement works. These works focus on the A34 and Meaford Road and are not NSIP projects. Meaford Road connects to the Meaford Business Park and its improvements are consented by an existing planning permission (reference 98/35897/OUT) obtained by St. Modwen. This was extended in July 2010 (reference 10/13609/EXT). These works are separate to MEL s proposals for the MEC. It will be made clear that queries relating to the highways improvements should be put to Staffordshire County Council At present, MEL is unaware of any NSIP proposals or events that would conflict with its consultation. However, HS2, the proposed high-speed rail route, has a second phase that passes through the Staffordshire area and MEL will monitor discussions around its progress. 17. Further Information

14 17.1. Further information on the MEC and MEL project can be found at ing: by calling or writing to Meaford Energy Limited, Local Dialogue, Freepost NAT3717, London, SE1 2BR MEL will notify those who have registered for project updates of the submission of its DCO application. If committees wish to receive updates, they need to contact the project team using the details above.

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16 Meaford Energy Centre Section 47 Planning Act 2008 Notice as to where and when the Statement of Community Consultation for the Meaford Energy Centre can be inspected Introduction Meaford Energy Limited (MEL) is proposing to construct, operate and maintain a combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station with an electrical capacity of up to 299 megawatts (MWe) at the Meaford Business Park in Staffordshire The project will include an integral electrical connection and an integral gas connection. Known as the Meaford Energy Centre (MEC), the project is designated as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) under the Planning Act 2008 and therefore requires a Development Consent Order (DCO) from the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. MEL has published a Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC) in accordance with Section 47 of the Planning Act The SoCC sets out how MEL proposes to consult people living in the vicinity of the MEC about the MEC. The SoCC sets out how MEL will carry out statutory consultation with local communities between 6 June 2014 and 7 July 2014 on its proposals for the MEC. A full copy of the SoCC is provided on the project's document library at and the SoCC is also available at the locations set out below. MEL's consultation approach is summarised in this notice. Meaford Energy Limited MEL is a joint venture partnership between Glenfinnan, a property investment and development company with extensive energy sector experience, and St. Modwen, one of the UK s largest regeneration specialists. St. Modwen also owns the Meaford Business Park, where it is proposed that the MEC is located. The partnership is currently progressing a number of CCGT power generation projects across the UK. Environmental Information MEL is required to undertake an environmental impact assessment (EIA) under the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2009 (as amended) (the "EIA Regulations"). The EIA will consider the potential impacts, both positive and negative, of the MEC including air and water quality, noise, visual, traffic, local ecology, archaeology and heritage, socio-economics and cumulative impact. To allow for full and meaningful consultation from 6 June 2014, MEL is publishing a Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) in accordance with the EIA Regulations. The PEIR will present the initial assessment as to the likely significant environmental effects of the MEC and potential mitigation measures relating to any significant adverse effects. The PEIR will inform the Environmental Statement that is submitted as part of the application for a DCO for the MEC. The PEIR will be available at the inspection locations set out in this notice between 6 June 2014 and 7 July 2014 and copies will be provided to the relevant statutory consultees.

17 The planning process The consenting process for DCO applications is set out in the Planning Act The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) is the agency responsible for managing the examination process for NSIPs. PINS will receive MEL's DCO application in 2014, undertake a thorough public examination of its content and then make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. The Government s policies in relation to projects such as the MEC are set out in National Policy Statements (NPSs). NPS EN- 1 (Energy) states that gas will continue to play an important role in the electricity sector providing vital flexibility to support and increasing amount of low-carbon generation and to maintain security of supply. The need for the Project is established through the NPSs and is therefore not a topic for consultation. The recommendation from PINS on MEL's application for a DCO will be made in line with the relevant national policy statements relating to energy developments of this nature. It is the Secretary of State who will ultimately decide whether or not to make a DCO for the MEC. Consulting the community MEL will consult the community pursuant to the Planning Act 2008 between 6 June 2014 and 7 July 2014, a period of 32 days. During this time, the community will be invited to view illustrative designs and information, including the PEIR, on MEL's proposals for the MEC. A full copy of the SoCC is now available on our website and is also now available at the below listed inspection locations. As set out in our SoCC, the following communication tools and methods will be used to notify the community of consultation: Consultation website - will serve as the most up to date source of project information. Consultation documents, plans and supporting information will be provided in the website's document library. Project leaflet - will be sent to residential and commercial addresses in a consultation zone that is set out in the SoCC. It will include a feedback form, provide contact details for MEL and include details on where further information can be found. Public exhibitions - the community will be able to meet and question the project team at two public exhibition events and submit their feedback in person. An information display will explain the proposals and supporting documentation including plans, visualisations, the project leaflet, the SoCC and the PEIR will be made available. Events will be held at the following times and locations: Lakeside Tavern, Function Room, Meaford Road, Stone, Staffordshire ST15 8UX - Wednesday 11 June 2014: 3pm to 8pm

18 Barlaston Village Hall, 1 Longton Road, Barlaston, Staffordshire, ST12 9AA - Thursday 12 June 2014: 3pm to 8pm Local media - the community will be kept informed of the consultation through press releases and advertisements in local media Presentations and meetings - if required, and where appropriate, presentations and meetings will be given to parish councils and elected representatives. Inspection of documents (including the SoCC) MEL will make the consultation documents noted above available at the following locations between 6 June 2014 and 7 July The SoCC is available at the below locations as from today's date: Deposit Location Staffordshire County Council St. Chads Place Stafford ST16 2LR Stafford Borough Council Civic Centre Riverside Stafford ST16 3AQ Stone Library High Street Stone Staffordshire ST15 8AT Opening hours Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday: 8.30am to 5pm Friday: 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday: 9am to 5pm Tuesday: 9am to 6pm Wednesday: 9am to 1pm Thursday: 9am to 5pm Friday: 9am to 6pm Saturday: 9am to 4pm Submitting comments and suggestions Those who wish to submit comments and suggestions during the formal consultation period (6 June 2014 to 7 July 2014) on MEL s proposals will be able to do so through the following channels: By info@meaford-energy.com In writing: Meaford Energy Limited, Local Dialogue, FREEPOST NAT3717, London, SE1 2BR By telephone: In person at exhibition events, meetings and presentations both verbally and via feedback forms An online comment form hosted on the project website MEL will have regard to the consultation responses received during consultation.

19 Written consultation responses submitted during the consultation period will be duly recorded. Received responses may be submitted to PINS within, or alongside, a Consultation Report. Feedback submitted verbally via the Freephone telephone line will be logged and summarised. Similarly, verbal feedback supplied at exhibition events and meetings will be summarised by MEL and may be included in the Consultation Report. MEL would welcome your views on the MEC on or before 7 July Please include your name and an address when providing a response. Responses may be made public, subject to data protection laws. Contact information MEL s project team can be contacted by: Calling , Monday to Friday, between 9:00am and 5:30pm. ing info@meaford-energy.com Writing to Meaford Energy Limited, Local Dialogue, Freepost NAT3717, London, SE1 2BR Further information about MEL and the proposals for the MEC can be found at 27 May 2014

20 Meaford Energy Centre Consultation Zone