Agenda item

The Chief Executive to report on the above.

Submitted – the report of the Chief Executive incorporating the Authority’s response to Horizon Nuclear Power’s Second Stage Pre-Application Consultation (PAC 2) regarding the Wylfa Newydd project.

It was reported that the proposed New Nuclear Build at Wylfa Newydd requires a Development Consent Order (DCO) application to be submitted in respect of the main power station and offsite integral developments.  Horizon Nuclear Power anticipates submitting the DCO application to the Planning Inspectorate in May 2017.  Following examination of the application a recommendation will be made by the Planning Inspectorate to the Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy who will determine the application and the final conditions (called requirements) which will apply to any consent if granted.  Under the statutory regime in Wales all enabling works such as highways improvements and site preparation, and associated developments will not be included in the DCO application but will be subject to 10 separate Town and County Planning Act (TCPA) applications.  These applications will be submitted to the Planning Authority for determination over the coming months. 

The second stage pre-application consultation (PAC 2) follows PAC1 which was carried out in September 2014 and an interim consultation in January 2016.  PAC2 is the final formal consultation prior to submission of the DCO and covers all of the main nuclear site, the integral offsite developments and the associated development.  PAC2 has an 8 week consultation period which began on 31st August, 2016 and will come to an end on 25th October, 2016.

The Leader of the Council gave a presentation and noted that the project covers the following  :-

•  Main power station site and offsite integral developments (e.g. MEEG) in DCO;

•  Enabling works (highways and site preparation);

•  Associated development (e.g. Workers Accommodation) in 10 TCPA applications to be submitted to the County Council.

He stated that main consultation document covers 22 separate chapters; Consultation Overview Document; Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) (29 separate chapters);Specific Appendices to the PEIR (6 documents); Technical Documents (5 Papers) i.e. Language Impact Assessment, Health Impact Assessment, Habitat Regulations Assessment Draft Evidence Plan, Sustainability Assessment; Topic Papers (15 separate papers); Masterplans (4 papers); Strategic Questions (11 questions); Community Benefits Scheme and Local Noise Mitigation Plan.

The Leader stated that in preparing a response to PAC 2, feedback has been sought from Officers in service areas of the County Council, Elected Members briefing sessions and specialist input from professional and legal consultants (funded by HNP via the Planning Performance Agreement agreed with the County Council).  The Authority remains supportive, in principle, to the Wylfa Newydd project but further detail is required with regard to Education, Skills and Jobs, Supply Chain, Worker Accommodation/Housing, Welsh Language & Culture, Tourism, Health & Wellbeing and Site Selection Methodology.

The Committee considered the report and raised the following issues :-

•  The Company needs to be aware and respect the ethos, culture and the Welsh language of the Island;

•  The quality of life of Anglesey and its communities needs to be protected due to the impact of such a development;

•  Training of children and young people within local schools is paramount for the future of good employment opportunities available to local people;

•  Horizon Nuclear Power needs to comply with the Statutory Planning Guidance (SPG);

•  Upgrade of the A5025 needs to be monitored due to the immense pressure that will entail during construction and future travelling to the site by workers on a daily basis;

•  The Cemaes to Amlwch route and the Llanfechell highway infrastructure needs to be upgraded to minimise the impact on the villages;

•  Country lanes need to be restricted to Wylfa Newydd traffic;

•  Hitachi should consider extending their 100 year commitment at the site due to waste and ground impact issues;

•  Storage of nuclear waste needs to be addressed;

•  Clarity needs to be sought as to the intention of Horizon with regard to Sites A and B at Amlwch for workers accommodation.  Significant concerns have been expressed by local residents with regard to this matter; 

•  The Health Sector needs to be strongly engaged with the effect on health and social care sector on the Island;

•  Tourism is a key economic sector on the Island and concerns raised to the potential lack of tourist accommodation being available due to Wylfa Newydd workers being housed within the tourist accommodation;

•  Legacy details needs to be defined clearer by the Company as there is a lack of detail as to how this will be achieved.  It was suggested that funding should be made available to enable all public meetings to be bilingual through translation facilities;

•  Disappointment that Llangefni has been disregarded as a location for any form of project related development opportunities for legacy within or in close proximity to one of the largest towns on the Island.

It was RESOLVED :-

•  To approve the formal response to the Second Stage Pre-Application Consultation (PAC 2);

•  That delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive to carry out any minor amendments, variations or corrections which are identified and reasonably necessary prior to formal issue of the response to PAC 2;

•  To delegate authority to the Chief Executive to conduct negotiations on the overall obligations package which will comprise of the respective planning obligation (S106) and related agreements for the DCO and TCPA applications.