Plans for one ‘unpopular’ substation were narrowly approved despite concerns about the loss of versatile farmland.
South Holland District Council’s Planning Committee last night (Wednesday, October 21) gave the green light to National Grid’s bid to build a 400kv substation in Weston Marsh, writes Local Democracy Reporter Oliver Castle.
‘Weston Marsh Substation A’ is part of the Grimsby to Walpole project which would see 140km of pylons built through Lincolnshire as part of an upgrade to the country’s energy distribution network.
Residents have previously raised concerns about this substation, which is due to be built on a location in Marsh Road, north of Weston and near Surfleet Seas End, on the grounds of the loss of top grade agricultural land and the impact on nearby roads.
But, after two and a half hours of debating the matter, councillors resolved to approve the application subject to conditions.
At a meeting on Wednesday, October 21, committee chairman James Avery (Conservative – Pinchbeck and Surfleet) said: “There will be a loss of what is designated as best and most versatile land.
“There will be an impact on the landscape and there will be an impact on the environment, communities and residents and the nature of South Holland itself.
“This development, without doubt, is hugely unpopular with local residents.”
But he added that the applicant has been deemed as “critical national infrastructure” and warned that many of the concerns weren’t strong enough to warrant a refusal on planning grounds.
But Coun Andrew Woolf (Conservative – Moulton, Weston and Cowbit) was critical of the application.
He said: “If this application is approved, it will open the door to turning our open landscape into an industrial eyesore that is irreversible, not just in Weston Marsh, but far wider afield as solar and windfarm companies are sitting waiting to see if they can plug into this site.”
He added that he understood the “need for renewable energy” but said he believes the substation was in the wrong place.
Coun Woolf also raised concerns about access to the site.
He said: “Anyone that has turned off the A151 onto Stonegate is soon aware that it is not much more than a country lane.
“Whilst there is talk of passing places being put into place and a temporary construction haul road, this is a disaster waiting to happen given the amount of vehicular movements that will happen, not just for this but further works that lie ahead in order to connect.”
A report states that the substation is needed in order to connect the power generated by the Outer Dowsing offshore windfarm into the grid.
Earlier this year the Government had approved the application to construct up to 100 wind turbines off the county’s coastline, along with underground cabling from Anderby Creek to a substation in Surfleet Marsh.
Councillors were told that the wind farm is a ‘critical national infrastructure’ and that the development consent order establishes ‘significant renewable energy and economic benefits’ – which should be given ‘significant weight’ in deliberations for the Weston Marsh substation.
Planning officers acknowledged that the application would result in a loss of the best farmland and have an impact on the landscape – but officers said that these concerns can be appropriately managed through planning conditions including tree planting and landscaping.
Craig Rivett, external affairs manager at National Grid, spoke on behalf of the applicant.
He acknowledged that residents had concerns, but added: “Landscape impacts can be mitigated.
“Biodiversity net gain will be provided and construction and traffic impacts will be appropriately managed through the planning conditions before you.”
The application was narrowly approved, with six councillors voting in favour, five voting against and two abstentions.
Members agreed that an additional condition requiring the developer to reduce construction hours on a Saturday and not to carry out any work on a Sunday or bank holiday.
Campaigners were disappointed at the decision.
They were frustrated that substation A was treated in isolation – with other infrustructure projects, including another substation, due to be determined separately by the Government.
Lincolnshire Against Needless Destruction (LAND) spokesman Cat Makinson said: “The guidance from the planning officer that weight should not be given to the cumulative impact was particularly difficult to hear as we are all too aware of how these plans interconnect. The substations, overhead lines and associated works form part of a wider electricity network, with consequences for Lincolnshire’s farmland, communities and landscape.
“We believe those wider consequences must be properly understood and assessed, not lost between different planning processes.
“Tonight’s debate demonstrated that several councillors had serious concerns and were seeking answers. The fact that approval was secured by just one vote illustrates how divided the committee was.”
