• The site already having s36 consent for a 430MW clean coal Power Station, which forms part of the Hatfield Power Park - a mixed-use development of environmental improvements, coal mining development, new infrastructure and the development of a business park based around the Power Station.
• The site having a long-term supply of good quality Hatfield Colliery coal from which to produce Synthetic gas - SYNGAS, thus avoiding the need for the order of 2 million tonnes per annum of coal being transported by either rail or road to the traditional coal-burning stations in the region.
• The site being located close to existing electricity transmission infrastructure.
• The planned construction of a new link road to J5 of the M18 providing the ability to route HGV traffic to and from the motorway network without the need for HGV's to travel through local communities.

Assessment of Potentially Significant Environmental Effects

The following sections summarise the 4 main topic areas that have been assessed in preparation of the Environmental Statement (ES). Full technical reports relating to the assessment of the potential impacts have been prepared and are attached to the full ES.

As the application involves a proposed increase in energy generating capacity of the consented station from 430MW to 900MW, with the initial firing of the turbines on natural gas (Combined Cycle - CCGT), updated assessments have been undertaken to account for the increased plant size.

Air Quality

The air quality assessment addresses the impact of the proposal on local ecology, through the potential deposition of nitrogen and sulphur on the Hatfield and Thorne Moors Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). Consideration is also given to the potential effects on climate change.

Based on 'worst case' computer modelling, the findings and conclusions of the Air Quality assessment can be sumarised as follows:

• The impact on local air quality from construction and decommissioning is temporary and capable of being controlled to acceptable levels.
• There may be a minor impact from traffic using the exisiting highway or via the proposed Link Road to the Power Park development, although there will be no exceedences of the Government's Air Quality Standards (AQS) legislation
• During operation of the Power Station no exceedences of AQS are predicted with a stack height of 88m and burning either natural gas or SYNGAS.
• No substantial impacts are predicted for the Hatfield and Thorne Moors SAC.

The operation of the generating station will result in only a minor direct adverse environmental impact. Regional benefits from the proposed development in terms of air quality are likely to arise from the use of modern, high efficiency technology which can realistically be expected to displace older, less efficient coal burning power stations in the electricity generating mix in the UK.

Noise and Vibration

The assessment for noise and vibration has considered the potential construction and operational impactsarising from the proposed power station. Measurements were taken at various sensitive receptors in the vicinity of the site.

The predicted noise and vibration impacts from the construction of the plant are likely to arise from the piling and earthworks in the worst case as the other phases of construction are likely to be much quieter. The noise impact for the construction phase of the plant is considered to be minor and temporary for those receptors located closest to the site.

It is envisaged tha the plant will be operational 24/7. Regular meetings will be held with the local community to address any issues to do with the operation of the plant. Noise mitigation measures and the employment of the best available techniques will ensure the operational noise and vibration levels will be kept to a minimum.

Water Environment

Assessments have confirmed that during construction and operation of this proposal, with the implementation of good environmental management and best practice, it is predicted that no significant impacts will result in relation to water supply, water discharge, surface water drainage, flood risk and the handling and storage activities on site.

Landscape and Visuals

The acceptability of a power station at this site in landscape and visual terms has been demonstrated by the existing s36 consent. This assessment considers the effect of an enlarged power station. It has identified that there would be adverse visual effects to the landscape character of the surrounding area, but these would be moderate to minor due to the low sensitivity of the area. No landscape designations would be effected.

Assessment of Other Relevant Environmental Issues

There are other environmental and technical considerations that relate to this application and these are summarised below. It is important to note that most of these matters have, in the period 2002 to present, been the subject of previous Environmental Impact Assessments as well as the formal consultation with the relevant bodies and consideration/determination by the planning authority and DTI.

Transport and Traffic

The traffic generated from the Power Station development, including both construction and operational traffic, can be mitigated and managed to ensure that the impacts on the local highway network are controlled to acceptable levels. To further reduce the impact the planned development of the link road to junction 5 of the M18 will facilitate the routeing of Power Station traffic, in particular the HGV traffic, direct to the motorway network

Archaeology

Previous assessment and subsequent archarology field work on undisturbed areas has demonstrated that the Power Station site has little or no potential for containing archaeological remains.

Local Ecology and Nature Conservation

the original proposals (2002) for the Power Park masterplan and the s36 proposal for the 430MW Power Station (which covers the current s36application site) included two ecological reports dealing with protected species and habitats of potential interest. A bat survey was also carried out in 2002.

No significant impacts were identified subject to the imposition of planning conditions. The main area of control relates to the translocation of water vole habitats on the site which has been successfully carried out. As with the air quality assessment, there will be no significant impacts upon the SAC's of Thorne and Hatfield Moors.

Socio-Economic Considerations

Previously undertaken Socio-Economic assessments have concluded that there are significant regenerative benefits to be gained for the Stainforth, Hatfield and Dunscroft areas as a consequence of the Power Park development. the development of the Power Station in combination with the colliery operations and immediately adjacent employment site present an opportunity for the development of a new business cluster in the M18 corridor, which is a target area for regeneration and economic growth both for Doncaster Borough and also the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Need for Development

The Government has set out that around 30-35GW of electricity will need to be provided by new generation plant capacity to meet the rising electricity demand as the ecomony grows and to replace the retirement of many, less efficient, nuclear and coal-fired power stations in compliance with EU legislation.

In order to fill the gap in supply and meet the increasing demand it is widely recognised that substantial investment will be required in:

• Low carbon technologies, such as renewables;
• Improving coal-fired power station efficiency;
• Implementing carbon capture and storage (CCS); and
• Providing a diverse energy mix

The energy supply issues facing the UK are imminent. Regeneration initiatives are progressing at Stainforth/Hatfield centering on the Hatfield Power Park development. The proposal for s36 consent to increase the planned power generation plants output from 430MW to 900MW presents a sustainable, high-tech low emission solution to filling a significant proportion of the predicted gap in energy supply. At the same time the proposal will sustain local and regional ecomomic growth.

Conclusions

The Hatfield Power Park site already has the benefit of s36 consent for a 430MW Power Station and the Environmental Statement (ES) confirms that the site is suitable in environmental impact terms to accomodate the proposed 900MW Power Station - with an initial start-up with natural gas followed by coal IGCC with carbon capture and export. The ES confirms that there is a need for new generating capacity in the UK, and this low-emissions Power Station accords with UK and European energy and emissions policies. The development will make a positive contribution to sustaining the Region's electricity supply and coal industries. It is therefore beneficial in sustainability terms to achieve greater power/electricity output from this site by increasing the generating capacity from 430MW to 900MW.

The full environmental Statement is available for viewing at Doncaster MBC offices, which are open during normal office hours. If you wish to purchase a copy of the Environmental Statement they are available from Heaton Planning (9 The square,Keyworth,Nottingham) for a cost of £150 including VAT.