to Friday 26 June 2015 Development Panel Will meet on Tuesday 7 July 2015 at 1.00 pm in Council Chamber - Allerdale House Membership: Councillor Peter Bales (Chairman) Councillor Carole Armstrong Councillor Nicky Cockburn Councillor Adrian Davis-Johnston Councillor Malcolm Grainger Councillor Margaret Jackson Councillor Mark Jenkinson Councillor Peter Kendall Councillor Billy Miskelly Councillor Ron Munby Councillor Jim Osborn Councillor Bill Pegram Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting. If you have any questions or queries contact Paula McKenzie on 01900 702557. The following Site Visits will take place: 2/2014/0468– Approved Solar Park at Pasture Farm, Aspatria, Westnewton, Wigton. 2/2014/0636 – Solar Park application at Wharrels Hill, Bothel Wigton. 2/2014/0886 – Outline application for four dwellings at Land at Main Street, Dearham. Members of the Development Panel will be picked up from Allerdale House, Workington and the bus will leave at 9.40am prompt. Lunch will be provided in the Lonsdale Room, Allerdale House for Members of the Panel. Agenda 1. Minutes (Pages 1 - 14) To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 16 June 2015. 2. Apologies for absence 3. Declaration of Interest Councillors/Staff to give notice of any disclosable pecuniary interest, other registrable interest or any other interest and the nature of that interest relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the adopted Code of Conduct. 4. Questions To answer questions from members of the public – 2 days notice of which must have been given in writing or by electronic mail. 5. Development Panel-2.20114.0636-Installation of solar park. Land East of Wharrels Hill Wind Farm, Adjacent A591, Bothel, Cumbria (Pages 15 - 54) 6. Development Panel-2.2014.0886-Outline application for 4 dwellings including access, layout and levels. Land at Main Street, Dearham (Pages 55 - 66) 7. Development Panel-2.2015.0213-Erection of wind turbine 47m to tip. Aikton House, Aikton (Pages 67 - 82) 8. Development Panel-2.2014.0880-Revised Scheme for 16no dwellings (10 open market and 6 affordable) and associated infrastructure. Land at The Fitz, Low Road, Cockermouth (Pages 83 - 108) 9. Development Panel-2.2015.0047-Development of 14 flats comprising 8 one bedroom flats and 6 two bedroom flats. Former Senhouse Terrace, Workington (Pages 109 - 118) Corporate Director Date of Next Meeting Tuesday 28 July 2015 at 1.00 pm Council Chamber - Allerdale House Agenda Item 1 At a meeting of the Development Panel held in Council Chamber - Allerdale House on Tuesday 16 June 2015 at 1.00 pm Members P Bales (Chairman) C M Armstrong A J Markley N Cockburn B Miskelly A Davis-Johnston R Munby M Grainger J Osborn M Jenkinson B Pegram P G Kendall An apology for absence was received from Councillor C M Jackson. Staff Present J Eaton, T Gear, K Kerrigan, S Long, P McKenzie and S Sewell. 28 Minutes The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 5 May 2015 were signed as a correct record. 29 Declaration of Interest None received. 30 Questions None received. 31 Development Panel- 2.2015.0148- Moorside Farm, Blooming Heather, Dearham- Erection of community wind turbine, 30m to hub and 46.3m to tip including associated hard standing, foundation, access track and substation The application: Erection of community wind turbine, 30m to the hub and 46.3m to the tip, including associated hard standing, foundation, access track and substation. Moorside Farm, Blooming Heather, Dearham, Maryport. The Planning Officer recommended refusal. The Planning Officer outlined the application and detailed the main issues within the report as detailed below; Principal of development - The Council seek to promote the development of renewable and low carbon energy resources provided the impacts (either in isolation or cumulatively) are, or can be made acceptable. Page 1 Residential amenity - The proposed turbine was within 800m of numerous dwellings at Blooming Heather, Harker Marsh/Sunnyslack, Craika Road and Maryport Road, Dearham. A number of properties would have open views of the turbine with unreasonable visual impact affecting living conditions. Visual and landscape impact - The proposed turbine as a stand-alone structure would appear as an alien structure; exacerbated by its two blade design and would have a significant adverse impact upon visual amenity and landscape character. Cumulative and sequential impact - The proposed turbine would be seen coincidentally with the three turbines at Flimby Moor and to less a degree with others existing and planned in the immediate and wider area. However, the matter of cumulative impact was not considered to be significant on this occasion to warrant a reason for refusal. Nature conservation - An ecological report had been provided regarding habitats and protected species. It was considered that the proposed development by virtue of its siting away from hedgerows and woodland would not have a significant adverse impact on nature conservation interests. Heritage - The proposal would not have a significant adverse impact on any designated heritage assets. The nearest Listed Building was Ewanrigg Hall 1.16km west Operational requirements - Subject to conditions relating to construction operations the proposed development would not have an adverse impact on the highway network. Potential benefits/Community turbine - The proposal would make a contribution to renewable energy deployment nationally. It would also make a contribution to the running costs of the farm business by providing a self-sufficiency of energy, creating an alternative source of income, supporting rural enterprise and economic activity. The applicant had proposed the turbine as a ‘community turbine’ with a variety of options for local people to invest into the project financially. A number of letters of support to the principle of this community involvement had been received. The guidance within the NPPF encourages community projects where there is clear evidence of community involvement and leadership. Despite this, it was not considered that the proposals were justified as there was no overwhelming community support from the most affected residents that would overcome the criteria within Policy S19 mitigating visual impact within 800 metres of residential properties. Members noted 21 letters of objection, 47 questionnaire replies of signed support letters, 29 from local addresses and 18 from elsewhere in the Borough Page 2 and 1 letter of written support from a local resident the main grounds of which were noted in the officer’s report. Members were informed that NATS had agreed mitigation with the applicant and therefore withdrew their original objection. In light of this the Head of Development Services, requested that reason 2 be removed from the reasons for refusal. Councillor N Cockburn moved refusal as per the officer’s recommendation. This was seconded by Councillor A Davis-Johnston. Councillor P Kendall moved deferral for a site visit. This was not seconded and therefore the motion was lost. A vote was taken, 11 in favour of refusal as per the officer’s recommendation, 1 against and 0 abstentions. The motion in favour of refusal as per the officer’s recommendation was carried. The decision: Refused. Reason: 1. The proposed turbine, by virtue of its siting, scale and two blade design in close proximity to residential properties, was considered to have the potential for significant adverse impact upon visual amenity. The proposal was therefore considered contrary to policies S19, S32 and S33 of the Allerdale Local Plan (Part 1) Adopted July 2014 and the advice contained within the National Planning Policy Framework and Planning Practice Guidance for Renewable and Low Carbon Energy. 32 Development Panel- 2.2014.0913- Land at The Went, Dearham- Outline application with all matters reserved for residential development The application: Residential Development (Outline). Land West of The Went, Dearham, Maryport. The Principal Planning Officer recommended approval. The Principal Planning Officer outlined the application and detailed the main issues within the report as detailed below; Principle - considered to be acceptable under Local Plan policy S3 Scale - Two storey or single storey dwellings were considered acceptable on this site Drainage - Foul to main sewer and surface water to soakaway/existing watercourse. Drainage can be achieved for the proposal. Residential Amenity - No significant harm to nearby properties Page 3 Access/parking - Access into individual plots from The Went was considered acceptable subject to conditions. Sufficient off street parking can be achieved. Archaeology - A condition for site investigations and recording can provide a satisfactory assessment of potential archaeological remains. Contamination - Can be satisfactorily dealt with be condition Members noted 1 letter of objection, the main grounds of which were noted in the officer’s report. Councillor C Armstrong moved approval as per officer’s recommendations. This was seconded by Councillor R Munby. A vote was taken, 12 in favour of approval as per officer’s recommendations, 0 against and 0 abstentions. The motion in favour of approval as per the officer’s recommendations was carried. The decision: Approved. Conditions: 1. Before any works commence details of the layout, scale and appearance, access and landscaping (hereinafter called 'reserved matters') shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority. Reason: The application has been submitted