Schedule 9 Statement

15. Under section 38 of the Electricity Act 1989, National Grid has a duty in formulating proposals for new development to “have regard to the desirability of preserving natural beauty, of conserving flora, fauna and geological or physiographical features of special interest and of protecting sites, buildings and objects of architectural, historic or archaeological interest; and shall do what [it] reasonably can to mitigate any effect which the proposals would have on the natural beauty of the countryside or on any such flora, fauna, features, sites, buildings or objects.”

16. National Grid is also required under schedule 9 of the Act to produce and publish a statement setting out how it proposes to meet this obligation. The company’s Schedule 9 Statement is available as a separate document.

Environmental Impact Assessment

17. Overhead lines with a voltage of 220kV or more and a length of more than 15km which require consent under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 are included in schedule 1 of The Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 (as amended). These regulations implement European Directive 85/337/EEC as amended by Directive 91/11/EC which set out procedures for the assessment of the effects of certain projects on the environment. For all development listed in schedule 1 of the regulations, the preparation of an environmental statement is mandatory. As such National Grid will always undertake an environmental impact assessment of all new high voltage overhead line routes of more than 15km in length and submit an environmental statement.

18. A separate list of developments is covered in schedule 2 of the regulations. A schedule 2 development project need only be subject to environmental assessment if it is likely to have a significant effect on the environment because of its size, nature or location. The regulations state that where proposals include a high voltage overhead line or an overhead line installed in a sensitive area, the need for an environmental impact assessment will be determined on a case-by-case basis. National Grid will therefore carry out environmental impact assessments for some overhead line developments which fall into schedule 2, dependent on consultation with the relevant local planning authorities and the outcome of the screening process.

19. Environmental statements are not required under the legislation for new substation proposals, however National Grid has given a commitment in its’ Schedule 9 statement to undertake relevant environmental investigations and report on these in any application for consent for new works.