Notice of the proposed application for a development consent order (DCO) to construct the North Wales Connection Project

1. Notice is hereby given that National Grid Electricity Transmission Limited (National Grid) of 1 – 3 Strand, London WC2N 5EH intends to apply to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy under Section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 (as amended) for a development consent order (DCO) to authorise the North Wales Connection Project.

2. The proposed project is to connect the proposed Wylfa Newydd nuclear power station to the existing national transmission network by means of a new 400 kV connection running from the existing substation at Wylfa to the existing substation at Pentir, Gwynedd. The connection is proposed to be constructed by means of both overhead line and a tunnel beneath the Menai Strait.

3. The overhead line section will incorporate the following proposed elements:

construction of approximately 30 kilometres (18.5 miles) of overhead line in Anglesey and Gwynedd, between Wylfa substation and Pentir substation and small changes to the existing 400 kV overhead line;

a circa 2 acre sealing end compound and tunnel head house at Braint; and a circa 2 acre sealing end compound and tunnel head house situated at Tŷ Fodol

Sealing end compounds are required to change the connection from overhead to underground and tunnel head houses are built on the top of the vertical tunnel shafts to provide permanent access for maintenance and house equipment.

4. The tunnel section will consist of around 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) of tunnel running between the two proposed tunnel head houses.

5. A circa 1 acre extension to the existing substation at Wylfa, needed to accommodate new equipment.

6. A circa 7 acre extension to the existing substation at Pentir, needed to accommodate new equipment.

7. The proposed application will include other required works, for example, temporary access roads, highway works, temporary works compounds, work sites and ancillary works.

8. This Notice relates to the development in respect of which the application is proposed as described above.

9. The proposed application will also seek authorisation for the compulsory acquisition of land and interests in and rights over land, over-riding easements and other rights, the temporary use of land, and other ancillary powers.

10. The development is an Environmental Impact Assessment development as defined in The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2009, as amended. The proposed application will therefore be accompanied by an Environmental Statement containing environmental information.

11. The documents, plans and maps showing the nature and location of the proposed development, including the preliminary environmental information, will be available to download from 05 October 2016 on www.northwalesconnection.com. Reference copies will be available to view free of charge from 05 October 2016 to 16 December 2016 at locations in the vicinity of the Project for the duration of our consultation. Addresses and opening times are provided opposite.

12. Copies of the documents, plans, maps and preliminary environmental information can be obtained free of charge from National Grid on a USB stick. Requests for hard copies will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. A reasonable copying charge may apply (up to a maximum of £500 for one full suite of documents) to be paid for by the recipient.

13. Responses to this consultation should be sent by email to nationalgrid@northwalesconnection.com or by post to FREEôPOST NATIONAL GRID NW CONNECTION. Feedback forms can also be completed at www.northwalesconnection.com

14. National Grid must receive all responses by 16 December 2016 to ensure their consideration. Please note that responses are likely to be made public, but that contact/personal details will be redacted.

15. When deciding on the final form of the proposed application for a development consent order for the proposed project, we will take into account any response to this publicity or the consultation that is received before the specified deadline.

16. We may be required to make copies of representations available to the Secretary of State. We will, however, request that personal details are not placed on the public record. Personal details will be held securely in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and will be used solely in connection with the consultation process and the development of this project and, except as noted above, will not be disclosed to any third parties.