St Martins Barn overhead line, S37 Consent, Electricity Act 1989

Secretary of State’s screening decisions in accordance with the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017. Date of decision 2 April 2026 Location St Martins Barn Isle of Wight Type of project/consent requested Section 37 consent to install or keep installed an electric line. Energy Infrastructure Planning 3-8 Whitehall Place London SW1A 2JP Email: S37consents @energysecurity.gov.uk Website: www.gov.uk/desnz Mark Wyles Southern Electric Power Distribution PLC 4 Penner Road Havant PO9 1QH Our ref: 2443u Your ref: FEM300 2 April 2026 Dear Mr Wyles, SCREENING DECISION BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE UNDER THE ELECTRICITY WORKS (ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT) (ENGLAND AND WALES) REGULATIONS 2017 (“THE 2017 REGULATIONS”) NAME OF SCHEME: ST MARTINS BARN Decision: The Secretary of State concludes that the proposed works are not EIA development under the 2017 Regulations and do not require a statutory EIA as they are unlikely to have significant effects on the environment due to their nature, location, and size. A copy of this letter has been sent to the LPA for information. Screening decision for a proposed development (“the proposed development”) to: • Install an additional 533m of 11kV overhead line to an existing pole mounted transformer Secretary of State considerations: The Secretary of State has considered the factors set out in Schedule 3 of the 2017 Regulations, together with the information within the supplied documentation (“the Application”) by Southern Electric Power Distribution (“the Applicant”) in relation to the impacts on the environment of the proposed development and the views of Isle of Wight Council (“the LPA”). In reaching his decision the Secretary of State notes the following factors: 1. The proposed development does not fall within Schedule 1 (mandatory EIA); 2. The proposed development falls under Schedule 2 of the 2017 Regulations as the electricity line is to be installed above ground in a sensitive area. 3. The proposed development falls within the Isle of Wight National Landscape and Isle of Wight Biosphere Reserve. 4. The LPA consulted with the Public Rights of Way service, which on 8 January 2026 requested that a condition be added requiring the service be provided with details of the installation and assurance that it would not affect users, in particular horses. The service also advised that should the route need to be temporarily closed, a traffic regulation order and minimum of three weeks’ notice would be required. The LPA did not include this as a condition but added it as an informative. 5. The LPA consulted the National Landscape officer, which confirmed on 14 January 2026 that it had no objection to the proposal noting that is a very minor development. 6. The Applicant consulted with the LPA, which raised no objections to the development and identified two conditions: that works shall be carried out in accordance with NJUG Volume 4 guidelines, and that any vegetation clearance shall take place outside the bird nesting season unless overseen by a suitably qualified ecologist. The LPA also advised that construction could be managed through implementation of a Construction and Environmental Management Plan prepared prior to works commencing. In addition, the LPA noted concerns raised by the national landscape officer and the parish council regarding the end user and the potential for future development in this remote location (planning reference: 25/01746/ELECN, dated 27 January 2026. 7. The proposed development is a minor modification to an existing piece of infrastructure and is likely to have minimal visual impact on the National Landscape in which it is located. Yours sincerely, John McKenna Head of Network Planning team Energy Infrastructure Planning Delivery Team