62. Many of the considerations which have given rise to National Grid’s approach to the siting of substations and the routeing of lines are also relevant to proposals for development close to such high voltage plant.
63. Some local planning authorities have included policies in their development plan documents which state that, when considering new development, the effect of overhead lines on amenity should be taken into account. National Grid believes that this is an appropriate approach. While National Grid cannot control development (except for safety reasons) under and adjacent to lines, it believes that there are operational benefits to National Grid, and amenity benefits to potential occupiers and the local community, in controlling the siting of such development.
64. National Grid will support policies in development plan documents which seek to control, on amenity grounds, built development under and immediately adjacent to lines. National Grid is pleased to be consulted on relevant development plan policies and wishes to encourage dialogue with local planning authorities in order to achieve these objectives.
65. National Grid cannot support policies or proposals in development plans which rely on EMF and related health concerns as justification to control or direct development and will therefore continue to make representations against such policies. As previously stated, it is National Grid’s policy to adhere to HPA (previously NRPB) guidelines.
66. By appropriate site design it is often possible to incorporate amenity areas free of built development along a transmission line and round a substation without sterilising significant areas of land. Appropriate uses for this land are public open space; nature conservation; or structural landscaping in residential areas, or for parking and storage in employment areas.
67. Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 12, ‘Local Development Frameworks’ published by the then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister , and Local Development Plans Wales (2005) published by the Welsh Assembly Government, advise local planning authorities to consult utility companies when preparing development plan documents. They also include reference to National Grid in Annex E, E3 and Annex A, B5 respectively. National Grid wishes to encourage local planning authorities to consult it on draft development plan documents and on planning applications. It would particularly welcome discussions early in the development plan documents process.