Agenda item

To receive an information report on briefing paper on the Yorkshire Green Energy Enablement project, known as Yorkshire GREEN – Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.

Councillor R Musgrave left the meeting at this point and did not return.

The Committee received a report which set out the legislative background to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and how these were dealt with.

Officers explained that on 1 April 2012, under the Localism Act of 2011, PINS became the agency responsible for operating the planning process for NSIPs. NSIPs were large scale developments such as new harbours, power generating stations (including wind farms) and electricity transmission lines which required a type of consent known as a DCO under procedures governed by the Planning Act 2008 (and amended by the Localism Act 2011). This was not a ‘planning application’ under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and the status of the development plan was different in that the principal guidance for their determination was contained within the suite of Energy National Policy Statements (NSPs).

Members noted that the 2008 Act set out thresholds above which certain types of infrastructure development were considered to be ‘nationally significant’ and required the granting of a consent order. NSIPs were introduced as a fast-track method and alternative way of dealing with nationally important infrastructure after the much-publicised delays in the consenting of Heathrow’s last major expansion proposal for a fifth terminal. In England, PINS examines applications for DCOs from the energy, transport, waste, wastewater and water sectors. For such projects, PINS undertakes an examination of the application and makes a recommendation to the relevant Secretary of State, who makes the final decision on whether to grant or to refuse the DCO. Energy NSPs introduce a presumption in favour of granting DCOs.

Officers went on to explain that National Grid Electricity Transmission was proposing to submit an application for a DCO to upgrade and reinforce the electricity transmission system in Yorkshire, spanning five local authority areas including Selby District, and that the scheme was Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) to be determined by PINS. Two rounds of public consultation had taken place in 2021; non-statutory consultation took place in quarter 1 of 2021; statutory consultation took place in quarter 4 of 2021. It was anticipated that National Grid Electricity Transmission would submit their DCO application to PINS during quarter 4 of 2022 or quarter 1 of 2023.  

The Officer Update Note set out details of the amended recommendation, as well as a correction at paragraph 3.5 of the report; the words ‘Drax Power Limited’ were to be replaced with the words ‘National Grid Electricity Transmission’. Officers also made Members aware that Appendix 1 – Overall Location Plan for Yorkshire GREEN Project was missing from the agenda; this would be shown in the PowerPoint presentation at the meeting.

The recommendations contained within the report, as updated by the Officer Update Note, were proposed and seconded.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the contents of the report be noted.

2.    That authorisation was sought from the Executive to authorise the Director of Economic Regeneration and Place in consultation with the Executive Member for Place Shaping to agree the Local Impact Report, Statement of Common Ground, the content of the draft DCO, and all further necessary representations by the District Council, together with post decision monitoring of planning conditions and enforcement of the DCO.