Testun llawn:
These representations are prepared on behalf of National Grid Electricity Distribution Plc (NGED)
(formerly Western Power Distribution Plc), in response to the Vale of Glamorgan Local Development
Plan Deposit Draft, which is subject to public consultation.
Introduction
NGED owns and is responsible for electrical distribution apparatus within the area subject to this Local
Plan and is the licensed network operator with statutory duties and powers including compulsory
purchase powers.
In preparing development plans, local planning authorities (LPA) have a duty to safeguard the
operation of National Grid’s infrastructure to enable NGED to supply electricity in the most efficient
and cost-effective manner. In the majority of cases this will involve retention of the existing
infrastructure in situ, including overhead power lines and pylons.
Towards Net Zero
The Government is committed to achieve net zero by 2050. The shift towards electricity to heat our
homes and power our cars is critical to achieving this goal and the National Grid is playing a crucial
role in meeting this commitment by increasing capacity to meet the growing demand for electricity.
Our network investment planning process is the strategic approach we are taking to investing in our
network, ensuring that it can meet future demand in the right place, at the right time while ensuring
good value for money for customers.
To ensure that we can provide the network you need from us, your projects need to be included in
our Distribution Future Energy Scenarios (DFES). We use this information to predict the future
requirements on our network and decide when and where to invest in the network. This ensures that
our strategic network planning provides sufficient network capacity as the country transitions to net
zero.
We ask Local Authorities about their future plans, including information in your Local Plan annually
(normally in May - July). This will inform our future forecasts down to Electricity Supply Area level
ensuring we can connect new developments in 5 years and beyond.
NGED strongly recommends that local planning authorities feed into the DFES process on an annual
basis, to ensure they have your most current growth plans and ambitions.
The DFES informs planning of the network beyond 3 to 5 years into the future (post 2030). If you have
a development that needs a connection sooner, please contact NGED as soon as possible to have a
discussion with them about securing a connection. A ‘connections surgery’ can be arranged to discuss
any developments you would like to connect.
NGED cannot guarantee capacity until a formal connection offer has been requested, issued and
accepted.
132kV Overhead Lines
Where diversion and/or undergrounding of overhead lines is deemed necessary to enable the
development of a proposed allocation, lower voltage lines (up to 33kV) supported by wooden poles
can normally be undergrounded or diverted without significant concern. However, where land
allocations affect lines supported by steel lattice towers, particularly 132kV, the LPA are advised to
engage with NGED at the earliest opportunity in the plan-making process to confirm:
a) whether the lines can be accommodated within the development site; or
b) the viability and feasibility of diverting and/or undergrounding overhead lines.
This includes, where relevant, ensuring the agreement of third party landowners to the provision of
new infrastructure on their land and subsequent agreement between the LPA and NGED to
appropriate wording within the allocation policy.
In allocating land affected by high voltage power lines, the LPA should take into account the additional
costs involved in their diversion and/or undergrounding, the need for additional new infrastructure
and its visual impact, including larger terminal towers at either end of an undergrounded line, and the
potential impact on timescales for delivery of the development.
LPAs should also be aware that where high voltage electricity lines are undergrounded National Grid
is unable to support any development which could affect the operation of or obstruct the line,
including buildings, tree planting, public highway or attenuation features. A 10m wide corridor of
open ground is required above the undergrounded cables. Accordingly, the retention of overhead
lines in situ provides greater opportunities to deliver an efficient and effective masterplan, with the
potential to deliver a range of uses beneath the lines including green infrastructure, public highway,
drainage features and some biodiversity net gain measures.
NGED cannot be held accountable for the absence of a planned solution for a proposed diversion route
or undergrounding of an overhead power line or any subsequent reduction in the allocation site’s
development capacity, where the LPA and/or developer/landowner has not agreed proposals with
NGED prior to the adoption of the Local Plan.
Planning for reinforcement
Reinforcement planning is crucial for future growth. As NGED's Network Development Plans identify
the need for new substations and other assets to meet future electricity demands, LPAs should
collaborate with NGED on suitable locations. Land for these substations should be safeguarded
through the Local Plan, with substation delivery timescales factoring into the LPA's housing trajectory.
NGED cannot comment on network capacity for developments beyond five years. To ensure future
capacity, LPAs must engage in the Distributed Future Energy Scenarios (DFES) process and review
Network Development Plans to confirm their projected growth is included in NGED's plans.
Summary
NGED does not object to the allocation of land upon which its infrastructure is present, however, in
the context of the Government’s commitment to reach Net Zero by 2050 and the role which National
Grid has to play in delivering significant new infrastructure to meet existing and future energy
demands, all reasonable efforts should be made by LPAs and developers to safeguard to retain the
existing grid infrastructure and the associated embodied carbon.
In preparing Local Plans, LPAs should take the following steps:
1. Ensure your LPA is responding annually to our Distribution Future Energy Scenario
questionnaire that is sent out via Regen.
2. For developments that require a connection to the distribution network within the next 5
years, contact NGED as early as possible to arrange a Connections Surgery. The surgery will
help you understand the timescales and costs associated with delivering the planned
development. .
3. Where land is allocated, priority should be given to retention of high voltage overhead lines
wherever possible, with design principles included within the allocation policy to safeguard
the retained lines and incorporate sensitively into the development, whilst achieving high
standards of design and an efficient use of land.
4. Where necessary, early engagement with NGED to establish whether its infrastructure can be
accommodated within the development or whether diversion/undergrounding is feasible;
5. Where diversion/undergrounding is required, ongoing dialogue with NGED to agree a
potential route prior to adoption of the Local Plan, as outlined above.
6. For strategic allocations and sites significantly affected by overhead lines (e.g. with 5 or more
pylons on site), NGED recommends early masterplanning and the preparation of
Supplementary Planning Documents to demonstrate site capacity and establish principles for
the retention/diversion or undergrounding of overhead lines and safeguarding of land to
accommodate new sub-stations, where necessary, with the agreement of NGED.
NGED has no site specific comments on the proposed allocations within the Deposit Draft Plan.
I trust this is useful in the preparation of the Local Plan. Should Officers have any queries regarding
the above, please do not hesitate to contact me.
