The Isles Wind Farm Background to community consultation/media/PDFs/Generation/wind/... ·...

The Isles Wind Farm Background to community consultationJuly 2011

To support the production of a Statement of Community Consultation (SOCC) (a requirement of the Planning Act 2008)

The Isles Wind Farm - Background to Community Consultationto Community Consultation July 2011

2

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 4

PART 1: ............................................................................................................................. 5

BACKGROUND, STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................... 5

AND GUIDANCE ................................................................................................................. 5

1.1 Background ................................................................................................................. 6

E.ON ................................................................................................................................................. 6

The proposals .................................................................................................................................. 6

1.2 Key requirements of the Planning Act 2008 ...................................................................................... 7

1.3 Other legislation ................................................................................................................................ 8

1.4 Guidance ............................................................................................................................................ 8

Identified aims of pre-application consultation ............................................................................. 9

1.5 Proposed changes to the planning regime for NSIPs ....................................................................... 9

1.6 Key documents relating to the pre-application consultation process ............................................ 10

Statement of Community Consultation (SOCC) ............................................................................ 10

The Isles Wind Farm – Background to Community Consultation document................................ 10

The Consultation Report ............................................................................................................... 10

1.7 Where to find the legislation and guidance .................................................................................... 11

PART 2: ........................................................................................................................... 12

EC&R PLAN FOR CONSULTATION ...................................................................................... 12

AND ENGAGEMENT ......................................................................................................... 12

2.2 Approaching consultation ............................................................................................................... 13

The terms ‘engagement’ and ‘consultation’ .................................................................................. 13

What EC&R mean by ‘stakeholders’ .............................................................................................. 13

‘Inner’ and ‘Outer’ consultation zones ........................................................................................... 14

2.3 The Isles Wind Farm staged consultation methodology................................................................. 14

Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 14

Consultation on environmental information ................................................................................ 15

2.4 Methods of contact ......................................................................................................................... 15

General .......................................................................................................................................... 15

Consultation notifications for those within the inner and outer consultation zones .................. 16

2.5 Methods of consultation and engagement .................................................................................... 16

2.6 Feedback ......................................................................................................................................... 17

How feedback will be recorded .................................................................................................... 17


3

Deadlines ...................................................................................................................................... 17

Reporting back to the community ................................................................................................ 17

What will happen to the records? ................................................................................................. 18

Data protection ............................................................................................................................. 18

2.7 The consultation timetable ............................................................................................................. 19

2.8 Other consultations ......................................................................................................................... 19

PART 3: ........................................................................................................................... 20

STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY CONSULTATION (advertised in the Northern Echo) .............. 20

PART 4: ........................................................................................................................... 25

APPENDICES ................................................................................................................... 25

Appendix 3: Stakeholders lists .............................................................................................................. 29


4

INTRODUCTION

E.ON Climate and Renewables (EC&R) is proposing to develop a wind farm, to be known as The Isles

Wind Farm, on a site located around 1.5km to the east of Newton Aycliffe in County Durham. This will

require an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to be submitted to the Infrastructure

Planning Commission (IPC) or its successor body, the Major Infrastructure Planning Unit (MIPU)1.

EC&R hope to be in a position to submit the application in 2012.

EC&R will carry out a programme of engagement and consultation with the local community, and

others, before EC&R submit the DCO application. Feedback from the consultation programme will be

used to help shape the proposals.

An assessment will also be made of the significant effects that the wind farm proposal is likely to

have on the environment. To this end, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be carried out

and an Environmental Statement will be produced to accompany the DCO application. Consultation

will also be carried out on Preliminary Environmental Information before the DCO application is

submitted.

Planning legislation requires a ‘Statement of Community Consultation’ (SOCC) to be drawn up in

conjunction with the local planning authority and published in a local newspaper. The purpose of

the SOCC is to set out how people within the vicinity of the land will be consulted before the DCO

application is made.

The purpose of this document, ‘The Isles Wind Farm - Background to Community Consultation’, is to

set out the approach and methodology to be adopted by us for the purposes of the The Isles Wind

Farm community consultation programme. This is then summarised in the SOCC.

Part one of this document provides further context, legislation and guidance applicable to the pre-

application consultation requirement.

Part two sets out the approach and methodology to community consultation adopted for The Isles

Wind Farm project.

Part three contains The Isles Wind Farm SOCC, which will be published in accordance with the

requirements of the legislation.

This document sets out the broad strategy for the staged process of engagement and consultation

that is proposed, recognising the need for some flexibility to allow for possible extra meetings or

additional opportunities for people to comment as the consultation process progresses. There may

also be a need to update the SOCC ahead of the second stage of consultation.

1 Refer also to Section 1.5 for future changes that are proposed to the planning system under plans announced

by the Coalition Government.


5

PART 1:

BACKGROUND, STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

AND GUIDANCE


6

1.1 Background

E.ON

The UK will have to replace a third of its power stations in the next decade, and do it in a way that

ensures the lights stay on, that carbon emissions are reduced and that energy is kept as affordable

as possible for customers.

In order to achieve that, E.ON support the Government’s view that the UK needs a diversity of supply

that includes new nuclear power stations, cleaner fossil fuels and renewables, while also helping

consumers to become more energy efficient.

E.ON Climate and Renewables (EC&R) is a global business responsible for the E.ON Group’s global

renewable energy generation and climate protection activities, and is already one of the largest

renewable energy companies in the world.

In the UK, EC&R is one of the leading renewable energy generators with a portfolio of 21 operational

onshore and offshore wind farms, and one of the largest dedicated biomass power stations in the

UK - the award winning Steven’s Croft power station in Lockerbie.

EC&R believe that wind is a key resource in the UK for meeting the energy challenge set out above.

The proposals

EC&R have identified a potential wind farm site, to be known as The Isles Wind Farm, located

approximately 1.5km to the east of Newton Aycliffe in County Durham. This site has the potential to

accommodate between 25 and 45 turbines, with an installed electrical capacity of 50-115 megawatts

(MW).

Within this range, the wind farm would generate enough electricity for between around 23,000 and

53,000 homes2 each year. A map showing the location of the site and the boundary of the maximum

extent of the site is included in Appendix 1. The site includes an area which has been previously

proposed by us for a wind farm (the A1 Wind Farm) and The Isles Wind Farm would encompass this

proposal. The A1 Wind Farm, which is the subject of a separate planning application, will be

withdrawn as part of this process.

In addition to the wind turbines, the project proposal will need to consider access arrangements,

and electrical connection (though these works are expected to be minor) and construction issues.

EC&R are proposing to submit an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) under the

Planning Act 2008. Effectively, this constitutes the main ‘planning application’ for this project. This is

expected to be ready for submission in 2012. An Environmental Statement will be included with the

DCO, containing more information on the proposals, details of any likely significant environmental

effects and how EC&R will mitigate them.

2 Based on an average annual domestic household electricity consumption of 4,700kWh (Source DECC)


7

1.2 Key requirements of the Planning Act 2008

Under the current legislation3, an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) would be

made to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) to permit construction of the The Isles Wind

Farm. This is a requirement of the Planning Act 2008, which provides the legal planning framework

for ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects’ (NSIPs). The Isles Wind Farm proposal would be

classed as a NSIP because it is an onshore generating station in England with an electrical capacity

greater than 50MW.

The Planning Act 2008 also imposes certain duties on the promoters of NSIPs to consult those who

would be directly affected by the proposals, people living within the vicinity of the land proposed for

the development, the general public, local authorities and a range of statutory bodies and other

consultees. This consultation must be carried out before an application for a DCO is submitted to the

IPC, and the intention is that feedback from the consultation will be used to help shape the

proposals.

Pre-application consultation is a particularly important element of the new planning system, and the

IPC can refuse to accept an application if it believes that the pre-application consultation has not

been properly carried out by the promoter.

Some of the key requirements of the Planning Act 2008 that relate to pre-application consultation

are:

Sections 42 – 45 require the promoter to consult a wide range of statutory consultees,

landowners, occupiers, tenants, local authorities for the area in which the development is

proposed and adjoining local authorities. At least 28 days must be allowed for this consultation.

Section 46 requires the promoter to provide all consultation material to the IPC before carrying

out consultation under Section 42.

Section 47 requires the promoter to consult the local community. The promoter must draw up a

‘Statement of Community Consultation’ (SOCC) explaining how it intends to carry out

consultation with the people who live in the vicinity of the land it wants to develop. The

promoter must consult the relevant local authorities for the area within which the development

is proposed and take account of responses it receives on the draft SOCC. It must then publish

the finalised SOCC in a newspaper circulating within the vicinity of the proposed site before

carrying out consultation in accordance with the SOCC.

Section 48 requires the promoter to publicise the proposed application and set a deadline for

the receipt of responses.

3 Refer also to Section 1.5 for future changes that are proposed to the planning system under plans announced

by the Coalition Government


8

Section 49 requires the promoter to have regard to relevant responses to all consultation and

publicity undertaken under Sections 42, 47 and 48. This will be important for the promoter in

deciding the final form of the proposal and the associated DCO application.

Section 37 includes a requirement for the promoter to produce a Consultation Report to accompany

the DCO application. This document is required to set out what has been done to comply with

Sections 42, 47 and 48 in relation to the application for development consent, and will also set out

how responses have been taken into account in shaping proposals.

A one page simplified schematic (with explanation) has been produced to explain how the process

is intended to work for The Isles Wind Farm proposal, and this is included at Appendix 2.

NOTE: Reference is made above to the Section 42 consultation process with statutory and other

consultees. This is intended to provide the reader with a more complete picture of the requirements

for promoters. However, The Isles Wind Farm - Background to Community Consultation document

has been written to explain how the community consultation will be carried out under Section 47 of

the Planning Act 2008, providing background to the SOCC. The detail of the Section 42 process and

its outcomes will be provided in the Consultation Report which will accompany the application to

the IPC.

1.3 Other legislation

As well as the primary legislation laid down by the Planning Act 2008, regulations exist to provide

more clarity on how the Planning Act should be implemented. Two of particular relevance to pre-

application consultation are:

The Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations

2009

The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2009

The latter includes a requirement (Regulation 10) to consult upon preliminary environmental

information. This applies to The Isles Wind Farm proposal because EC&R judge this to be a

development for which an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should be carried out. The output

of the EIA process will be reported in an Environmental Statement produced to accompany the DCO

application.

1.4 Guidance

Applicants for development consent are required to take account of guidance which is issued by the

Government and the IPC and which relate to pre-application consultation. As such, the following

guidance has been taken into consideration in the preparation of this Background to Community

Consultation document:

Guidance on pre-application consultation, Department for Communities and Local

Government, September 2009 (CLG Guidance)

IPC Guidance Note 1 on Pre-Application Stages (Chapter 2 of the Planning Act 2008), Revision

1, 29 March 2010)


9

Identified aims of pre-application consultation

CLG Guidance sets out a number of principles for pre-application consultation. It notes for example

that the early involvement of local communities, local authorities and statutory consultees can bring

the following benefits:

To allow members of the public to influence the way projects are developed

To help local people understand better what a particular project means for them

To obtain important information about the economic, social and environmental impact of

the scheme from consultees

To enable potential mitigation measures to be considered and, in some cases, built into the

project before an application is submitted

It may identify ways in which the project could, without significant costs to promoters,

support wider strategic objectives.

In addition, it is noted that the IPC will place a high value on:

Ensuring the local community and stakeholders have access to all relevant information,

including the consultation process

The developer seeking the advice of the local authority with regard to developing a

consultation strategy

Ensuring all statutory consultees have an opportunity to influence plans before they are

submitted

A range of methods being used during consultation to ensure all groups are reached at an

early stage.

In terms of consultation methods, the CLG Guidance encourages promoters to consider using a

range of methods, possibly including:

Local exhibitions

Drop-in sessions

Workshops

Telephone advice lines

Citizen panels

Parish, town and community councils and their representative bodies

Internet

Media

1.5 Proposed changes to the planning regime for NSIPs

On 29th June 2010, the Coalition Government announced plans to abolish the IPC and to replace it

with a new body to be responsible for examining (but not deciding upon) NSIP applications. The

Localism Bill published on 13 December 2010 provides the statutory mechanism by which the IPC

will be abolished and replaced with a new body, to be known as the Major Infrastructure Planning

Unit (MIPU). The Localism Bill is currently the subject of parliamentary process. Under the Coalition

Government’s proposals, the final decision on DCO applications would be taken by the Secretary of


10

State. The pre-application requirements, including those relating to consultation are expected to be

similar to those currently in place.

The existing system prevails until new or transitional arrangements are in place, and reference

continues to be made to the IPC throughout this document and the SOCC.

1.6 Key documents relating to the pre-application consultation process

Statement of Community Consultation (SOCC)

The requirement for a SOCC was set out earlier in Section 1.2.

The Isles Wind Farm SOCC sets out our commitment to community consultation. In accordance with

legislative requirements, Durham County Council has been consulted upon the content and publicity

of the SOCC, and its views have been taken into account. The SOCC will be published in the Northern

Echo newspaper. For reference, the SOCC is contained in Part 3 of this document.

The Isles Wind Farm – Background to Community Consultation document

To keep the SOCC reasonably succinct and readable (and capable of being published in a newspaper

notice), the IPC’s Guidance Note 1 recognises that it may be useful to have a separate background

document to set out more information behind the SOCC. This document has been produced to

provide background information to The Isles Wind Farm SOCC.

The Consultation Report

The legislative requirement for a Consultation Report was set out earlier in Section 1.2. It will provide

a record of the formal pre-application consultation, a summary of the responses received and how

relevant responses have been taken into account. CLG Guidance indicates that the Consultation

Report should set out:

A general description of the consultation process

Specifically what the promoter has done in compliance with the requirements of the

Planning Act 2008, IPC and CLG Guidance

How the promoter has taken into account any response to consultation with local

authorities on what should be in the Statement of Community Consultation

A summary of responses to the consultation

A description of how the application was influenced by those responses, outlining any

changes made as a result, and showing how significant relevant responses will be

addressed

An explanation as to why any significant relevant responses were not followed, including

relevant advice on impacts from the statutory consultee

Where the promoter has not followed the advice of the local authority, not complied with

the CLG Guidance or any relevant guidance published by the IPC, providing an explanation

for the action taken.


11

In addition, the CLG Guidance notes that those that have contributed to the consultation process

should receive feedback. This may require respondents to be provided with the Consultation Report

or a simplified, shorter version. Importantly, this will need to indicate how the information received

by the promoters has been taken into account, as well as how outstanding issues have been

addressed.

1.7 Where to find the legislation and guidance

The key legislation and guidance is available to download from the IPC website:

http://infrastructure.independent.gov.uk/

http://infrastructure.independent.gov.uk/


12

PART 2:

EC&R PLAN FOR CONSULTATION

AND ENGAGEMENT


13

2.1 Objective

Our objectives are to:

Inform and educate stakeholders about The Isles Wind Farm proposal in a clear and

unambiguous manner

Provide access to information at all stages of the engagement and consultation process so

that stakeholders can develop a well informed understanding of the development proposals

Enable opportunities for views to be made, expressed, understood and recorded

Facilitate opportunities for stakeholders to meet with our staff and other members of the

project team

Give proper consideration to comments received in the formulation of our proposals, and

provide feedback to those who have responded.

2.2 Approaching consultation

The terms ‘engagement’ and ‘consultation’

The terms ‘engagement’ and ‘consultation’ can be easily confused. EC&R have tried to set out what

EC&R mean here for the process of community involvement as follows.

EC&R will seek to be open and engaging, by making people aware of the proposal and providing

information about it in a variety of different ways, and EC&R will be fully open and receptive to views

EC&R receive about the project. EC&R see this as a process of engagement.

However, there will be certain times in the development process when EC&R particularly need the

input of the community on specific aspects of the project. These formal ‘consultations’ will be well

advertised in the press, by direct notification for those living close to the site and on The Isles Wind

Farm project’s web pages. The consultations are, therefore, designed to reach out to a wide

audience to gather the views of the public and community. Such consultations will be carried out in

accordance with the requirements of Section 47 of the Planning Act 2008, the guidance of the IPC

and CLG and in accordance with the SOCC and will be carefully recorded such that a true record of

the questions, responses and our subsequent actions can be submitted as part of the Consultation

Report to the IPC with the DCO application.

Public comment will be an important factor to be taken into account, along with the views of

statutory and non statutory bodies including local authorities, the advice of our consultants and of

course relevant national and local policies. EC&R will then need to reach decisions and move the

proposal forward.

What EC&R mean by ‘stakeholders’

Part 1 of this document provided an overview of the two different consultation processes – one

aimed at public and the community (the ‘Section 47’ requirement), the other aimed at statutory and

other bodies (the ‘Section 42’ requirement). The output from both the Section 42 and Section 47

consultation processes will be documented within the Consultation Report to be submitted with the

DCO application.


14

For the purpose of the SOCC, where the focus is on the Section 47 community consultation process,

‘stakeholder’ means those individuals, groups or organisations with an interest in the project and

those living within the vicinity of the land where The Isles Wind Farm is proposed to be developed.

For the purposes of the public and community engagement, stakeholders are considered in two

broad categories:

In accordance with Section 47 of the Planning Act 2008:

Members of the public / residents living in the vicinity of the land

Land owners

Community groups

In relation to associated guidance:

Businesses

Educational organisations

Voluntary and charity groups

Ecological groups

Political (local) groups

These lists are expanded upon further within Appendix 3, although it is accepted that this list is not

exhaustive and may need to be reviewed and amended as the consultation process develops (a final

list of consultees will be included within the Consultation Report).

‘Inner’ and ‘Outer’ consultation zones

Whilst anyone will be able to participate in the consultations, with the aim of maximising local

awareness and participation in the consultation process, and in conjunction with Durham County

Council, EC&R have identified two zones around the maximum possible site boundary. The inner and

outer zones are shown on the map in Appendix 4.

The identification of stakeholders and the use of zones have helped in developing a more targeted

method for engagement and consultation (see Sections 2.4, 2.5 and the consultation schedules in

Sections 2.7 for further details).

2.3 The Isles Wind Farm staged consultation methodology

Overview

For a development of this nature, a two-stage consultation strategy is being adopted as follows:

Stage One: In the first stage of the consultation, views will be sought on a number of possible wind

farm layouts, and various constraints criteria will be explained to show how these

layouts were identified. The Stage One consultation will help in preparing a preliminary


15

layout for further consultation in Stage Two. Access arrangements, electrical connection

and construction management will not be considered at this stage.

Stage Two: Following consideration and assessment of responses to the Stage One consultation, a

preliminary layout of the wind farm will be drawn up. A second stage of consultation

will then take place on this layout and other supporting material. This will include

information on other aspects of the proposal such as access arrangements, electrical

connection and construction management.

National energy policy will be outside of the scope of the consultations. The IPC will need to decide

the application in accordance with the provisions of the Planning Act 2008, taking into account the

Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1) and the National Policy Statement for

Renewable Energy Infrastructure (EN-3), once designated by Government and the specifics of the

DCO application.

For both stages of consultation a Consultation Document and Non Technical Summary of the

Consultation document will be widely available. Further reference is made to the Consultation

Document in further Sections of this document.

Consultation on environmental information

By virtue of this being an EIA application for which an Environmental Statement will be needed,

there will also be a need to consult on Preliminary Environmental Information (PEI) before

submitting the DCO application. This is information which will be compiled by us to assess the likely

significant environmental effects of the proposed wind farm. Consultation on PEI will take place

when sufficient environmental information is available, which is likely to be after the Stage Two

consultation. Details will be publicised in advance.

It is proposed that the overall programme of engagement and consultation will run for

approximately 12 months, ending with the submission of the application for the Development

Consent Order (DCO) in 2012.

2.4 Methods of contact

General

In order to inform stakeholders about the proposals and the consultation and engagement process

effectively, a range of communication tools and different media will be used. Examples include:

Invitation letter and Non Technical Summary of the Consultation document – to be provided to

those within the inner consultation zone, as well as a variety of other stakeholders (Appendix 3

provides a guide to the identification of such recipients) providing information on the project and

details of the consultations. A questionnaire on the scheme will be provided in due course, (see

Section 2.5, below).


16

Advertising – information on public exhibitions and key milestones in the project development

process will be shared with a wide audience through advertising in local newspapers and online

media.

Posters – to be displayed in high foot fall areas or places of local relevance.

Consultation questionnaire forms – these will available at events and public exhibitions.

Web pages - online methods will be utilised for the dissemination of information, providing an

update on the project, advertising engagement and consultation events, contact details and

providing a mechanism for people to respond to the consultation. The web address will be included

within The Isles Wind Farm SOCC.

Community phone line – a freephone number will be publicised and included within The Isles Wind

Farm SOCC. Out of hours, an answer machine facility will ensure that people can leave their views, or

request a call back.

Post – A free postal address will be made available for those wishing to make contact and for

responses to the consultation. The address will be included within The Isles Wind Farm SOCC.

Consultation notifications for those within the inner and outer consultation zones

Proactive notification of consultations will be communicated to those within the inner consultation

zone to make them aware of the events directly. Beyond that, the emphasis will be on indirect

awareness raising such as newspapers and information posted on The Isles Wind Farm web pages.

Advertising within selected local newspapers will raise awareness of the proposal and consultation

events within the outer consultation zone agreed with Durham County Council.

2.5 Methods of consultation and engagement

Listed below are some of the methods EC&R will use to engage and consult on the scheme:

Consultation document – The consultation document will include the material associated with each

stage of consultation. It will be made available at the exhibitions and in a number of other locations

which are easily accessible to the public. This information will also be available to download from

The Isles Wind Farm web pages. A Non Technical Summary of the consultation document will also be

produced and included with a covering letter to those in the inner consultation zone as well as

being made available on the web pages and to a number of other bodies (Appendix 3 provides a

guide to the identification of such recipients).

Exhibitions – These are an essential component of our strategy in taking information to local

residents and others interested in the proposals at all stages of the development process.

Exhibitions will be fully accessible to all local residents and will be held at convenient times so that

people who work or have other commitments are not excluded. In addition, our public exhibition

boards will be uploaded onto the web pages, allowing stakeholders who are unable to attend in

person to view them at their leisure. The exhibitions will be held at a variety of venues and over a


17

number of days to encourage a wide range of visitors. It will provide an opportunity for discussion

and comments regarding the development proposal.

Online tools – The Isles Wind Farm web pages will provide the opportunity for people to feed back

their views on the project and to provide responses to the associated consultations.

Briefing sessions – used for political and community groups to update on progress and discuss key

issues. These sessions will allow us to tailor information for the audience, so that they receive

maximum benefit from the meeting.

Stakeholder workshop – will bring together stakeholders to discuss the scheme in detail, managed

by an independent facilitator.

2.6 Feedback

Capturing and responding to feedback is an essential part of the pre-application process,

particularly when EC&R are carrying out the formal consultation on our proposals, but also through

our general engagement activities where EC&R will capture more general views on the project. As

set out earlier, EC&R will record and analyse comments that EC&R receive, and they will be used to

help shape our proposals. The Consultation Report will provide a detailed account of the

consultation carried out, opinions received and the actions EC&R have taken in response to this

information. EC&R will also provide an account of the less formal engagement activities within the

Consultation Report.

How feedback will be recorded

A number of methods will be utilised to capture feedback in a manner that will allow the data to be

recorded, processed, analysed and the information used to help shape the final DCO application.

Recording methods will include:

Feedback forms

Questionnaires

Online feedback mechanism

Deadlines

Respondents will be given at least 28 days from the end of the last public exhibition, in accordance

with the Planning Act 2008 guidance. The timetable will be made clear to consultees at the start of

any activity and will be supported by public notices as well as notices featured on feedback forms

and other feedback mechanisms.

Reporting back to the community

EC&R will provide feedback from Stage One consultation as part of the context for the second stage

and this information will also be provided on the web pages.


18

What will happen to the records?

The Consultation Report will summarise the views received through the processes of engagement

and consultation. There is no requirement to include within it the raw data such as letters, feedback

forms and meeting notes. However, this information can be requested by the IPC to check the

validity of the Consultation Report and will therefore be retained whilst the examination of the

application takes place.

Data protection

Contact details and other relevant information from respondents will be important in assisting with

the analysis of responses. Such information will therefore be requested.

To provide reassurance and openness for those taking part in consultation activity, EC&R will publish

our procedure on handling personal information. The following statement will appear on the web

pages, with concise versions on consultation materials:

IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT THE USE OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

EC&R will encourage you to submit your name and/or email/postal address with any response as it

supports the planning process and may help assess the potential impact of the proposed

development.

If you choose to submit your name and/or email/postal address you should note that:

information you submit will be processed and analysed by us

EC&R may be required to forward information EC&R receive from you to Durham County Council

and the Infrastructure Planning Commission (or its successors)

the planning process is a public process, meaning that documents submitted are matters of

public record and are available to the public to view.

To protect your privacy, EC&R will:

only use information you submit in connection with the planning process

not pass any information to additional third parties

require that all of our employees and consultants who have access to your personal information

or are associated with the handling of that information are obliged to respect your

confidentiality

hold all information you submit in accordance with the legal requirements of the Data

Protection Act 2000.


19

2.7 The consultation timetable

The formal two stage consultation programme has been drafted taking into account the relevant

guidance and with the assistance and agreement of Durham County Council.

Key programme milestones are:

Summer/Autumn 2011 Start of consultation, information about the consultation events will

be released to coincide with the publication of the Statement of

Community Consultation.

Stage One consultation events will be held, including public

exhibitions.

Spring 2012 Information to be released publicising the second consultation

stage.

Stage Two consultation events will be held, including public

exhibitions. (Consultation on PEI will take place at or around the

same time as this consultation)

Winter 2012 Anticipated submission of the application for a Development

Consent Order.

2.8 Other consultations

At the time of drafting this document, Durham County Council has confirmed that there are no other

significant consultations which may impact on this consultation plan.


20

PART 3:

STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY CONSULTATION

(advertised in the Northern Echo)


21

STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY CONSULTATION (SOCC)

(Published under Section 47(6) of the Planning Act 2008)

The Isles Wind Farm July 2011

Introduction

This statement sets out how E.ON Climate and Renewables (EC&R) will consult the local community

on plans for a proposed wind energy development, to be known as The Isles Wind Farm, located

around 1.5km east of Newton Aycliffe. The Isles Wind Farm site includes an area previously proposed

for a wind farm (known as The A1 wind farm). In preparing this SOCC, EC&R have consulted with

Durham County Council, which has confirmed that it is not aware of other consultations that could

affect the consultations for this proposal.

The proposals

The key elements of The Isles Wind Farm would be the construction of between 25 and 45 wind

turbines, equipment to connect the wind farm to the electricity grid, and access arrangements. No

new overhead electricity lines are proposed. Depending upon the number of turbines, the proposed

development would provide an overall installed electrical capacity of 50-115 megawatts (MW),

sufficient to produce enough electricity for around 23,000 to 53,000 homes* each year, making a

significant contribution to the Government’s targets for renewable energy generation and helping

to reduce carbon emissions which are believed to be a major contributor to climate change.

* Based on an average annual domestic household electricity consumption of 4,700kWh (DECC)

A wind farm development could potentially affect communities living within the vicinity of the site:

for example, construction activities or changes that it would introduce to the landscape character

and other associated environmental effects.

Planning matters / policy

For this proposal, EC&R are required to submit an application for a Development Consent Order

(DCO) to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC), established under the Planning Act 2008, or

its successor body, under the new planning system. The application, which will seek permission to

construct and operate the wind farm, is expected to be ready for submission to the IPC in the winter

of 2012.

The IPC is currently the body set up to receive and examine applications for Nationally Significant

Infrastructure Projects, including the proposed Isles Wind Farm as it will be an onshore generating

station in England having an electrical generating capacity of over 50MW. The IPC will take account

of the pre-application consultation that has been undertaken when deciding whether to accept the

application, and the responses to consultation in examining the application. Public and community

participation in the pre-application consultation process is strongly encouraged, so that views can

help shape the proposals. Public responses will be summarised as part of a formal Consultation

Report to be submitted with the application for the DCO. In considering the application, the IPC will

also have regard to relevant National Policy Statements (NPSs), including the Overarching Energy

NPS and the NPS on Renewable Energy Infrastructure, which are expected to be adopted by

Government in 2011.


22

Engagement and consultation

EC&R will engage with the local community and provide ongoing information using channels such as

meetings, exhibitions and project web pages. A community freephone line, e-mail address and

freepost address will also be available (details below).

However, within the overall pre-application process EC&R will undertake a more structured and

formal two stage process of consultation where views will be recorded and considered. Feedback

received will be used to help shape proposals. Information will be provided on how and when these

consultations are taking place, so that the local community can participate and provide comments.

Two stage pre-application consultation process

A two-stage consultation process will be undertaken to give more scope for feedback. Stage One will

seek views on a number of layouts, leading to a preliminary wind farm layout which will be the

subject of the second stage of consultation. National energy policy will be outside of the scope of

the consultations. The IPC will need to decide the application in accordance with the provisions of

the Planning Act 2008, taking into account the Overarching Energy NPS and the Renewable Energy

Infrastructure NPS and the specifics of the DCO application.

Stage One: In the first stage of the consultation, views will be sought on a number of possible wind

farm layouts, and various constraints criteria will be explained to show how these

layouts were identified. The Stage One consultation will help in preparing a preliminary

layout for further consultation in Stage Two. Access arrangements, electrical connection

and construction management will not be considered at this stage.

Stage Two: Following consideration and assessment of responses to the first stage, a preliminary

layout will be drawn up. A second stage of consultation will then take place on this

layout and other supporting material. This will include information on other aspects of

the proposal such as access arrangements, electrical connection and construction

management.

EC&R believe the proposal to be one for which an Environmental Impact Assessment will be needed.

As such, the application will be accompanied by an Environmental Statement. Consultation on

Preliminary Environmental Information (PEI) will take place when sufficient information is available,

which is likely to be after the Stage Two consultation. Details will be publicised in advance.

Consultation activity

For the purpose of this SOCC, the term ‘stakeholders’ has been used to describe people or groups

living within the vicinity of the proposed wind farm.

A number of activities and events will be organised during both consultation stages to enable a

wide variety of stakeholders to engage with us, raise questions and make comments. Methods to

be used include:

Public Exhibitions, where project and consultation material will be available and where

members of the project team will be on hand to assist in clarifying information, answering

questions and receiving feedback.

Online activity, where consultation material will be available to download (and through

which responses can be submitted).


23

Stakeholder workshop, which will bring together stakeholders with differing objectives to

discuss the scheme through a facilitated workshop.

Briefing sessions, tailored to specific groups (such as community and political groups).

Details of consultation events and materials

The consultation events will be communicated as required in advance. Information to support them

(consultation document and a non technical summary of the consultation document) will be

available electronically and in hardcopy form. The consultation document will include details of the

consultation including dates, key events, materials being consulted upon and how to provide

feedback.

A letter with the non technical summary of the consultation document will be sent to those living

within an inner zone as agreed with Durham County Council. A variety of other key stakeholders

including parish councils and various local groups will also receive information about the

consultation and the various events. Details of the consultations will also be advertised in Newton

News, Ferryhill & Chilton Chapter and the Darlington & Sedgefield Advertiser.

The consultation information will also be posted on the project webpages (details below), and

details of the consultations and events will also be publicised through the use of posters in

appropriate areas, in a variety of public buildings suggested by Durham County Council.

Provisional dates

Summer/Autumn 2011 Start of consultation, information about the consultation events will

be released to coincide with the publication of this Statement of

Community Consultation.

Stage One consultation events will be held, including public

exhibitions.

Spring 2012 Information to be released publicising the second consultation

stage.

Stage Two consultation events will be held, including public

exhibitions. (Consultation on PEI will take place after this Stage Two

of Consultation)

Winter 2012 Anticipated submission of the application for a Development

Consent Order. (Note - the full application will be publicised and

consulted upon once accepted by the IPC).

Stage One consultation events

Stage One of the consultation programme will commence with a series of public exhibitions where

stakeholders are invited to view the plans, make comments and discuss the proposal with our

project team.

Thursday 8th September from 13:00 to 20:00

The Xcel Centre, Long Tens Way, Aycliffe Business Park, County Durham, DL5 6AP


24

Friday 9th September from 13:00 to 20:00

Sedgefield Racecourse, Racecourse Road, Sedgefield, TS21 2HW

Saturday 10th September from 09:00 to 14:00

Chilton & Windlestone Working Mens Club, Durham Road, Chilton, DL17 0EY

Feedback

Feedback can be provided through the project web pages, in hardcopy form via a freepost address

or at our local events and will be welcomed throughout the consultation process. Respondents will

be given at least 28 days from the end of the last public exhibition to comment on the proposals.

Relevant information will be sought from respondents to help in analysing and assessing feedback.

Comments and feedback received will be recorded and taken into account and the information will

be used to help decide the form of the final development proposals.

EC&R will also make reasonable efforts to receive feedback from those with disabilities or

impairments.

Contact details and further information

Through the internet: www.eon-uk.com/theisles, or

By email: [email protected]

By post: The Isles Wind Farm, Freepost RRSE-KZCU-AZJL, E.ON, Westwood Business

Park, Westwood Way, Coventry, CV4 8LG

By freephone: 0800 0961199

A more detailed background document ‘The Isles Wind Farm – Background to Community

Consultation’ has been produced with more detailed information that has led to the production of

this SOCC. This document is available for download from the project web pages and for viewing at:

Spennymoor Customer Access Point

Durham County Council, Council Offices, Green Lane, Spennymoor, County Durham DL16 6JQ

Ferryhill Library

North Street, Ferryhill, County Durham DL17 8HX

Sedgefield Library

Front Street, Sedgefield, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland TS21 3AT

Chilton Library

Durham Road, Chilton, Ferryhill, County Durham DL17 0EX

Newton Aycliffe Library

Central Avenue, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham DL5 5QG

Shildon Library

Church Street, Shildon, County Durham DL4 1DU

Dated July 2011

E.ON Climate & Renewables

http://www.eon-uk.com/theisles

mailto:[email protected]


25

PART 4:

APPENDICES


27

Appendix 2 - Indicative process timeline for formal pre-application consultation

Proposed Isles Wind Farm – information on the pre-application consultation timeline as shown in

the above schematic

The Isles Wind Farm proposal is referred to as a ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project’ or NSIP

under the Planning Act 2008. This is because it would have an electrical output greater then 50 MW.

The main permission for a NSIP is a Development Consent Order (DCO). DCO applications are

currently decided by the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC), which the Government has

proposed be abolished and replaced by a new body to be known as the Major Infrastructure

Planning Unit (MIPU). Ultimately, the Secretary of State will take the final decision on whether or

not the DCO should be granted, based upon the recommendation of MIPU. For simplicity, only IPC is

referred to in the text that follows.

In addition to any ongoing engagement that EC&R will carry out, the Planning Act 2008 sets out the

need for a more formal process of consultation before an application for planning is made. The

schematic above highlights some of the formal aspects of the consultation process that the team

will carry out, indicating some of the key points where consultations will take place. It is important

that communities know how and when to have their say, and how their comments will be taken into

account. EC&R hope that the schematic and the information here will help to explain how the

process works.

Responses to the formal consultations will be compiled by us and will be used to help shape the

proposals. A Consultation Report must be included to the IPC with the application to explain what

responses were received, and how they have been considered in bringing forward the final

application.


28

Although not shown on the schematic, it is important to note that once the application has been

submitted to (and validated by) the IPC, there will be a chance for anyone to make comments on the

application direct to them.

EC&R will publicise in advance the consultation opportunities, and this information will also be

available on the project’s webpages at www.eon-uk.com/theisles together with details of how you

can contact us. EC&R will also provide links from here to other useful sites such as the IPC website.

Two consultation requirements which are particularly worth noting for The Isles Wind Farm project

are:

Section 47 of the Planning Act (which sets out the process for community consultation)

Section 42 of the Planning Act (which sets out the process for consulting local authorities,

statutory bodies and certain others with an interest in the land).

A Statement of Community Consultation (SOCC), prepared in conjunction with Durham County

Council will be published in the Northern Echo (and on The Isles Wind Farm webpages). This is again

a requirement under the Planning Act, and will provide details of how EC&R will carry out the

Section 47 consultations for the Isles Wind Farm, A number of events will be held as part of the

Section 47 community consultations.

In preparing the application, a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the wind farm

proposal will also need to be undertaken, and The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact

Assessment) Regulations 2009 also requires us to publicise and consult communities upon certain

Environmental Information referred to as Preliminary Environmental Information (PEI).

Finally, and before an application is made, Section 48 of the Planning Act requires details of where

the proposed application can be viewed to be published in various newspapers, making clear the

deadline for responses. As for the above, the outcome of this consultation will be detailed in the

Consultation Report.

EC&R have decided upon a staged process of consultation which will combine the Section 42 and

Section 47 requirements. The first stage will look at a number of possible wind farm layouts and will

help in arriving at a preliminary layout. When more detailed work has been undertaken on the

preliminary layout, a second stage of consultation will be carried out, and this will include aspects

relating to the whole proposal, including access arrangements, the electrical connection

(underground cable) and construction management. The Section 48 requirement is likely to coincide

with the Stage Two consultation.

EC&R plan to carry out the first stage of consultation during the summer, the second in winter

2011/spring 2012 and the Section 48 publicity / PEI consultation in summer 2012.

http://www.eon-uk.com/theisles


29

Appendix 3 - Stakeholders lists

(To be read in conjunction with Section 2.2)

Section A1.1 below provides an initial list of stakeholders and groups associated with the Section 47

consultation category.

Section A1.2 below provides a further list of stakeholders and groups relating to CLG guidance (to

which project promoters are required to have regard) as well as to a number of other stakeholders.

Neither list is exhaustive, and full details of those consulted in accordance with the Section 47

community consultation requirement will be included within the Consultation Report.

A1.1 Initial list of stakeholder groups for purposes of Section 47 consultation

Community groups

County Durham and Darlington ‘One Voice’

Durham County Community Development Team

Durham Area Action Partnership co-ordinator

Age Concern County Durham

Durham Association of Youth and Community Organisations

Durham County Adults, Wellbeing and Health: Newton Aycliffe office

East Durham Rural Corridor Area Action Partnership

Ferryhill and Chilton Area Action Partnership

Newton Aycliffe Area Action Partnership

A1.2 Further stakeholders and groups to whom EC&R will have regard

Business

North East Chamber of Commerce

CBI North East

Sedgefield Business Forum

Durham Tees Valley Airport

Newcastle Airport

National Farmers’ Union, Sedgefield Group

Education

Woodham Community Technology College

Vane Road Primary School

St Mary’s (Aided) Primary School

Chilton Primary School

Sedgefield Community College


30

University of Durham

Bishop Middleham School

Sedgefield Primary School

Hardwick Primary School

Bishopton Redmarshall School

Voluntary and charity

UK Youth Parliament

Seven Parishes Action Group

Campaign to Protect Rural England, County Durham

Durham County Positive Activities for Young People team

Dioceses of Durham (church groups)

Churches Regional Commission

Newton Aycliffe over 55 club

Woodham Village Community Association

Groundwork West Durham and Darlington

Sedgefield Civic Trust

Chilton West Residents’ Association

Community and Voluntary Organisations Support (CAVOS) Sedgefield borough area

voluntary umbrella group

Sedgefield Residents’ Forum (via the Town Council)

Sedgefield Rotary Club

Ecological

Climate Durham

Durham Bird Club

Durham Wildlife Trust

Durham Badger Group

Durham Bat Group

RSPB

British Horse Society

Durham CPRE

Parish and town councils:

Local parish councils Bradbury and The Isles

Other local parish council: Mordon parish meeting

Adjacent and connected parish/town councils:

o Chilton Town Council

o Windlestone Parish Council

o Great Aycliffe Town Council

o Great Stainton parish meeting (Darlington Borough Council)

o Sedgefield Town Council


31

(Other political stakeholders to be contacted in relation to the proposals)

Durham County Council members (councillors)

Association of North East Councils

Assistant Chief Executive

o Head of Partnerships and Community Engagement

Corporate Director for Regeneration and Economic Development

Durham County Council Planning Department

(Political – national)

MP for Sedgefield:

Adjacent constituencies:

o Bishop Auckland

o City of Durham

o Darlington

o Easington

o Stockton South

o Stockton North

o Hartlepool

o Richmond

MEPs for the North East

Ü

KEY:The Isles Site BoundaryProposed Turbine PerimeterInner Rural Consultation ZoneOuter Consultation Zone

0 2,000 Metres

Scale: 1:50,000

APPENDIX 4CONSULTATION ZONE PLAN

PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK

E.ON Climate & Renewables UK Developments Ltd

Westwood Business Park Westwood Way Coventry CV4 8LG Registered in England and Wales No 3758407

eon-uk.com/theisles

The Isles Wind Farm Background to community consultation/media/PDFs/Generation/wind/... ·...

Documents

Transcript of The Isles Wind Farm Background to community consultation/media/PDFs/Generation/wind/... ·...