PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Forests: Christchurch (3 July 2014)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 137W, on forests: Christchurch, how many areas of woodland and heathland in Hurn Forest will be affected by the cable route; and what steps have been taken to consult local people about the environmental effect.

Asked by:
Sir Christopher Chope (Conservative)

An application for the proposed development has been made under the Planning Act 2008 and members of the public have had an opportunity to register as interested parties in the examination process. The application documents are published on the Planning Portal website. The applicant proposes that a cable corridor of 4,565 linear metres will be laid within the Hurn Forest.

During construction a corridor up to a maximum of 40 metres would be required by the contractors to facilitate laying the cable; this equates to an area of 18.26 hectares. After construction, the land directly affected by the cable would be 20 metres wide (affecting 9.13 hectares). The Forestry Commission has worked with the developer to locate the proposed cable route adjacent to existing forest roads and tracks, reducing the impact on the actual forest area.

Since 2012, the developers have undertaken public consultation prior to the submission of their application on the route of the cable and the potential impacts (http://www.navitusbaywindpark.co.uk/consultation). The examination process will include further opportunities for representations about the proposal, including the Environmental Statements submitted as part of the application.

Answered by:
Dan Rogerson (Liberal Democrat)
8 July 2014