Connah's Quay, Deeside - Consultation on Low-Carbon Power Project

THE CONNAH'S QUAY LOW CARBON POWER PROJECT

The Planning Act 2008 - Section 47

'Notice publicising the statement of community consultation1

Notice is hereby given that Uniper UK Limited (company number: 02796628) whose registered office is Compton House, 2300 The Crescent, Birmingham Business Park, Birmingham, England, B37 7YE (the 'Applicant') has made available for inspection a Statement of Community Consultation ('SoCC') in connection with a proposed application for development consent to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero) under section 37 'Applications for orders granting development consent' of the Planning Act 2008 (the 'PA 2008') (the 'Proposed Application'), to authorise the construction, operation and maintenance of the Connah's Quay Low Carbon Power Project (the 'Proposed Development'). The Applicant has published this SoCC in accordance with section 47 of the PA 2008.

The Proposed Application seeks development consent for the demolition of an existing Gas Treatment Plant ('GTP'), distinct from the existing Connah's Quay Power Station, and Above Ground Installation ('AGI'), store buildings, and contractors' facilities on site and the construction, operation and maintenance of a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine ('CCGT') electricity generating station of around 1,100 megawatts ('MW') and up to 1,380 MW net electrical output with Carbon Capture Plant ('CCP'); water abstraction and discharge and electricity connections; a carbon dioxide connection to the HyNet Carbon Dioxide ('CO2') Pipeline Project; AGIs; utilities; construction laydown areas; access works; and other associated and ancillary development. The Proposed Development Site (the 'Site') comprises land at, and in the vicinity of, the Connah's Quay Power Station Site, Kelsterton Road, Connah's Quay, Deeside, CH5 4BP. The Site includes land within the administrative area of Flintshire County Council in North Wales and also within the administrative area of Cheshire West and Chester Council in England.

The Site comprises a number of areas, including the 'Main Site', encompassing the Connah's Quay Power Station Site and which would be the location for the new CCGT with CCP, and a number of corridors of land for electrical grid connection, carbon dioxide and water connections, and other areas of land for construction laydown, biodiversity enhancement area and access works.

The Main Site is approximately 56.5 hectares ('ha'), with the entire Site extending to approximately 186 ha.

The Proposed Development comprises the following elements:

a) Demolition works at the existing Power Station Site, including demolition of the existing GTP, AGI, store buildings and contractors' facilities.

b) A CCGT electricity generating station of around 1,100 MW and up to 1,380 MW net electrical output with CCP and ancillary buildings and structures within the Main Site. The CCGT with CCP plant will comprise up to two new 'Trains'.

c) Associated Development, including:

• Proposed Carbon Dioxide ('CO2') AGI - which will be located within the Main Site.

• Repurposed CO2 Connection Corridor - the export of CO2 will utilise approximately 3 km of an existing natural gas pipeline. It includes a buffer zone of up to 100 m width. Some physical works may be required to the Repurposed CO2 Connection within the Main Site to connect to the Proposed CO2 AGI and within the Proposed CO2 Connection Corridor to connect to the Proposed CO2 Connection. Studies are ongoing to determine the need for and nature of any physical works within the Repurposed CO2 Connection Corridor.

• Proposed CO2 Connection Corridor - captured CO2 emissions from the Proposed Development will be discharged from the Repurposed CO2 Connection Corridor, via a new circa 350 metre pipeline spur (the Proposed CO2 Connection) into the proposed Flint AGI (which is part of the proposed HyNet CO2 Pipeline Project) and then into the HyNet CO2 Pipeline.

• Water Connection Corridor - cooling water for the Proposed Development will be abstracted from and discharged to the River Dee, in line with the current process for the existing Power Station. This may require new infrastructure or use of existing infrastructure.

• Electrical Connection Corridor - a new connection will be required from the CCGT plant to the Applicant's existing 400 kV banking compound. The existing electrical connection from the Applicant's 400 kV banking compound is expected to be used to connect the Proposed Development to the existing Connah's Quay 400 kV Substation located south-east of the Main Site.

• A Construction Laydown and Indicative Enhancement Area.

• Accesses and access works.

d) Further associated development comprising such other works or operations as may be necessary or expedient.

All of the above elements will be included in the Proposed Application.

Under Section 47 of the PA 2008, the Applicant has a duty to consult people living within the vicinity of the land to which the development relates about that development prior to applying for development consent in accordance with the SoCC.

The Proposed Development is an Environmental Impact Assessment ('EIA') development for the purposes of The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. The Applicant is therefore required to carry out an EIA of the Proposed Development and to submit an Environmental Statement with the Proposed Application, assessing the likely significant effects arising from the Proposed Development on the environment. Environmental information that the Applicant currently has will be made available during the consultation on the Proposed Development in the form of a Preliminary Environmental Information Report ('PEIR').

Section 47(6) of the PA 2008, requires an applicant for development consent to make the SoCC available for inspection by the public in a way that is reasonably convenient for people living in the vicinity of the land to which the proposed development relates. In accordance with Section 47(6) this notice confirms below when and how a copy of the SoCC, that has been prepared by the Applicant, can be inspected.

The SoCC is now available for download and inspection free of charge on the Applicant's consultation website: https://uniperuk.consulting/cqlcp/ under the 'Documents' tab.

If you are unable to access the consultation website or have any queries, please email: info@connahsquaylcp.co.uk or telephone: 0800 0129 156 and you will be offered a paper copy of the SoCC free of charge on request or a USB device containing the SoCC free of charge. Any details you provide to us via email or telephone will be subject to our Privacy Policy available at: https://uniperuk.consulting/cqlcp/privacy-policy/.

Digital copies of the SoCC and this SoCC Notice are also available to view free of charge at the following inspection locations in the vicinity of the Proposed Development until 19 November 2024:

Should you have any questions about the SoCC please visit the consultation website or contact the Applicant using the above contact details.

Uniper UK Limited

September 2024