Advice to Ofgem
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- From
- Ofgem
- Date advice given
- 25 June 2013
- Enquiry type
As you may be aware, some time ago Ofgem published a factsheet on visual amenity in relation to the energy system. Following feedback from stakeholders, and changes to the price control and planning processes, we are in the process of updating this factsheet to clarify the distinctions between approaches to existing and new infrastructure, set out the high-level roles of each party involved and clarify how stakeholders can get involved in the process.
We will shortly be seeking feedback on a draft version, in order to ensure that it is as accurate, useful and accessible as possible. I would be very grateful if you or a colleague could find some time to review the factsheet and send me any comments. In particular, please let me know whether you believe it captures the planning process correctly.
Advice given
Thank you for sending the draft factsheet to the Planning Inspectorate. My colleagues and I think that there are a few additional areas which may be of interest to the reader:
The rules and guidance about what electricity network proposals are acceptable are collated in National Policy Statement EN-5 (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/47858/1942-national-policy-statement-electricity-networks.pdf).
The NPS says that developers should follow the Holford Rules (http://www.nationalgrid.com/NR/rdonlyres/E9E1520A-EB09-4AD7-840B-A114A84677E7/41421/HolfordRules1.pdf) as a guide to sitting pylons and electricity lines. These rules offer advice about mitigating the visual impacts of power lines, through route choice, use of backgrounds and screening.
There are opportunities for the public to get involved in the examination process, but the best opportunity to influence the proposal is during the pre-application phase of consultation organised by the developer before the application is made (http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/application-process/the-process/).
We've come up with a slightly wordier version which is a little more precise, but obviously you have to make a judgement between simplicity and completeness for your audience.
The second is to get involved in the planning process, the best time to influence a project is during the pre-application consultation phase undertaken by the applicant prior to submission of the application. If engaging at a later stage you should be able to register your interest in a particular application with the relevant planning authorities to become involved in the examination.