Agenda item

The Principal Planning Policy Officer presented a detailed report and presentation slides on the National Grid’s proposal to enhance the East Midlands electricity network by building and operating approximately 60 kilometres (km) of new 400 kilovolt (kV) overhead electricity line from Chesterfield to Willington (South Derbyshire) with part of the proposal to come through Bolsover District.

The report set out a summary of the proposals, a summary of the potential longer term implications for the Council once a Development Consent Order (DCO) was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate and a potential response to National Grid’s non-statutory stage 1 consultation.

Due to the General Election 2024, the timetable for the consultation had been temporarily postponed and would now end on 17^th September 2024.  There was still opportunity to attend consultations in person and one was scheduled to take place in Glapwell on 18^th July from 2pm to 7pm where representatives from National Grid would be present to answer questions.  Consultation documents were also available in Bolsover and South Normanton libraries.

Taking a strategic approach, National Grid had looked at various different options and had decided that the most effective route was Chesterfield to Willington as set out below.  The Chesterfield to Stretton route would cross into the Bolsover District.

·       Section 1 - Chesterfield to Stretton;

·       Section 2 - Stretton to Ripley;

·       Section 3 - Ripley to Morley;

·       Section 4 - Morley to Ockbrook;

·       Section 5 - Ockbrook to Aston-on-Trent; and,

·       Section 6 - Aston-on-Trent to Willington.

The presentation slides set out maps of the heritage and environmental constraints and it was noted there would be a negative impact on heritage assets including Hardwick Hall, Hardwick Old Hall, Hardwick Hall Register Park and Gardens, Bolsover Castle, the scheduled monument at Stainsby defended manorial complex and the conservation areas located at Hardwick and Rowthorne, Stainsby, Astwith and Hardstoft.  A meeting had been held between officers and representatives of the National Trust to review the implication of the proposal for Hardwick Hall.  It was noted, however, that impacts on local natural wildlife sites were not considered in the proposal by National Grid.

The consultation was an online feedback form with a series of questions divided into six sections plus a number of general questions.  Appendix 2 to the report set out the Council’s proposed response to the questions in relation to the Chesterfield to Stretton route to follow a potential alternative route between Holmewood and North Wingfield and also the negative impact on heritage and the lack of investigation into the impact on local wildlife sites.  It was noted that the pylons would be 50 metre high lattice structures, and examples of alternate pylons were included in the report.  It was also anticipated that the new UK Government’s proposals may have an implication for the timetable of the project.

In response to a Member’s query, the Principal Planning Policy Officer advised the meeting that as this was stage 1 consultation and the route was not yet definitive, Members should refer any queries they received from the public back to this report and its appendices.  It was possible that amendments may be made to the Council’s consultation response further to discussion with National Trust and English Heritage, however, it was anticipated that these would only be minor changes.  The Chair added that if any major changes were made to the consultation response, these would be reported back to Committee.

A Member agreed with the recommendation in the report and stated that while progress was necessary, there was a need to protect residents as well as heritage sites like Hardwick Hall.  It would be preferable to have underground cables, though this was not financially viable.  If there was a choice, the ‘T-pylon’ would be preferable.

The Chair queried why local wildlife sites were not considered by National Grid in the consultation exercise.  The Principal Planning Policy Officer advised that local wildlife sites were not necessarily taken into account as they had less statutory protection.

Moved by Councillor Duncan McGregor and seconded by Councillor Deborah Watson

RESOLVED that: 1) the proposal for a new overhead electricity line from Chesterfield to Willington, which was located in part of the Bolsover District, be noted,

2)    the potential implications for the Council if an application for a Development  Consent Order was submitted and subsequently granted, be noted,

3)    the Council responds to the consultation questions considered to relate to Bolsover District (set out in Appendix 2 to the report),

4)    delegated authority be given to the Assistant Director of Planning & Planning Policy, in consultation with the Chair of Planning Committee, to amend the  proposed responses set out in Appendix 2 to the report, reflecting any additional information that becomes available.