Installation of a farm wind turbine max. hueb height 25m with a total height to blade tip of 37m.
LOCAL MEMBER: Councillor Stephen W Chrchman
Minutes:
Erect a 85kw wind turbine on a 25m column, with a
total height of 37m to the tip of the blade
(a) The Senior Development Control Officer elaborated on the background of
the application and noted that this was a full application to erect a 85kw wind
turbine on a 25m tower with a total height of 37m to its tip (including the
blades) on agricultural land between the villages of Bryncir and
Garndolbenmaen. It was explained that
the location of the turbine was within 260m of the residential property of
Llystyn Ganol and within 150m of the existing turbine on the land. It was highlighted that the boundary of
Snowdonia National Park was located approximately 440m to the east of the site.
The
application had been screened formally for an Environmental Impact Assessment
under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England
and Wales) Regulations 1999 (as amended) and it was not considered that the
impact of the proposed development on the environment was sufficiently
substantial to justify submitting an environmental statement with this
application.
In terms of the principle of the
development, it was noted that this was acceptable and that relevant national
planning policies involving renewable energy developments had been considered
together with policy C26.
In the context of general and
residential amenities, it was highlighted that there was a significant distance
between the site of the proposed turbine and any nearby dwelling (except for
the applicant's property). The noise
assessment submitted with the application was assessed by the Public Protection
Unit and it was confirmed that the noise levels of the proposed turbine
together with the noise of the existing turbine would not be raised higher than
the appropriate noise levels. Consequently, it was suggested that a condition
should be included to ensure that the noise levels did not change to an
unacceptable level and impair on the general and residential amenities of the
neighbouring area and in terms of shadow flicker.
In relation to visual amenities, confirmation had
been received from the AONB Unit stating that it had no concerns regarding the
impact of the proposed development in terms of views in and out of the AONB. In
response to the objections of the National Park, Snowdonia Society, Campaign
for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) and members of the public which noted
that the proposal would have a detrimental impact on the setting of the Park,
and that there was an unacceptable cumulative impact given that there was
another turbine on the site and on other land nearby, it was noted that the
proposal would not likely harm the special characteristics and character of the
Park by being significantly intrusive visually and/or by by means of
insensitive and incompatible siting within the landscape.
Having considered all the observations received as
well as local and national policies and guidance, it was reiterated that this
proposed development would not have a detrimental impact on the amenities of
the local area including the general landscape or on views into and out of the
nearby National Park.
(b)
The local member (not a member of this
Planning Committee) made the following main points:-
·
That he
did not object to the application and that the details of the report were
accurate
·
That the
turbine was a little larger than the one currently on the site, but blended in
well to the background
·
That the
National Park opposed every turbine near its boundaries
·
That the application complied with
current policies
·
That there
was no objection from local residents - no objections / observations had come
to hand
·
The applicant
kept a traditional farm and needed to diversify
Proposed and seconded to approve the application in
accordance with the planning officers’ recommendation.
In response to a question regarding what weight is
given to the observations of the National Park in order for them to be
disregarded, the Development Control Manager noted that these observations had
been assessed in full in the report and in the context of the observations of
NRW which did not object despite the location of the Park.
(c) During the ensuing discussion, the following main observations were
noted:
·
That the proposed
turbine was in a less prominent site than many others
·
Supportive of renewable
energy
·
Welcomed diversification
given that basic payments would reduce and would end in 2020
RESOLVED to approve the application
Conditions
1.
Time - commence work within two years.
2. Comply with plans
3. Permission for a period of 25
years
4.
Colour / finish
5.
Noise
6.
Decommissioning
7.
Archaeology
8.
Biodiversity
9.
Underground cables only
10.
Submit details of any equipment or machinery
11. Planning condition to protect bats
Supporting documents: