SCHEDULE a Complex Planning Applications SCHEDULE No: 1 SL
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SCHEDULE A Complex Planning Applications SCHEDULE No: 1 SL/2011/0685 PENNINGTON: STANDISH COTE AND MEAN MOOR, MARTON AND HARLOCK HILL, PENNINGTON, ULVERSTON PROPOSAL: INSTALLATION OF FIVE 99.5M HIGH (2.3Mw) WIND TURBINES, INCORPORATING THE REMOVAL OF FIVE EXISTING Website Link: TURBINES ON http://www.southlakeland.gov.uk/fastweb/detail.asp?AltRef=SL/2011/0685 HARLOCK HILL, FORMATION OF E325395 N479542 28/03/2013 ON-SITE ACCESS TRACKS, ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS AND CARRIAGEWAY WIDENING WORKS MR MATT RUSSELL SUMMARY: This application seeks permission for the removal of the five existing 53 metre high turbines and replacement with five turbines, which would have a maximum height of 99.5 metres to blade tip. It straddles the administrative boundaries of Barrow Borough Council and South Lakeland District Council. Planning applications detailing the full scheme have been submitted to both authorities. Two of the turbines would be located in South Lakeland and three would be within Barrow Borough. A site visit was undertaken in October last year and this application was deferred from the October Committee Meeting so that the developer could submit further information in support of the application relating to the visual impact from dwelling houses. The report at that time recommended refusal for three reasons: adverse impact on the landscape, adverse impact on living conditions and adverse visual impact on the footpath users of Mean Moor. In addition to the additional information submitted by the applicant, two planning appeal decisions have been drawn to the officer’s attention, GlaxoSmithKline have written stating that they wish to source electricity from the turbines and an independent assessment of the LVIA and the Galpin audit report thereon has been received. The appeal decisions relate to the objective assessment of the impact of wind turbines on living conditions in dwellings, and this has altered conclusions on one of the previous reasons for refusal. All of this material is addressed in the report. Although the proposal will make a tangible contribution to targets for renewable energy generation, this does not outweigh the adverse visual impacts of the proposal and the significant impacts on users of the adjacent public footpaths, taken together. DESCRIPTION AND PROPOSAL: Site Description There are currently five wind turbines located on Harlock Hill near Pennington within South Lakeland District. They have a height of 53 metres and were granted consent in 1995. The application site is approximately 10km northeast of Barrow-in-Furness and 4km northwest of Ulverston. The larger part of the site is located at Mean Moor (Barrow) and the smaller at Harlock Hill (South Lakeland). The two sections are separated by Poaka Beck and the northern part of Harlock Reservoir. The land rises at either side of the beck, and is steeper and higher on Mean Moor, rising up to a height of 311 metres on Bank House Moor immediately to the northwest. The site is farmland and is used for grazing purposes. It is comprised predominantly of semi-improved grassland, improved grassland, marshy grassland and acid grassland. Other habitats include scattered scrub, species poor hedgerows, springs and flushes. Kirkby Moor Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is adjacent to the site to the northwest. Two bridleways and a series of footpaths pass within and adjacent to the part of the site within Barrow Borough. Proposal The proposed turbines would have three blades with a maximum height to blade tip of 99.5m, a maximum hub height of 64 metres and a capacity of up to 2.3 MW. The two turbines on Harlock Hill, within South Lakeland, would be located reasonably close to the locations of the two most northerly existing turbines, and would be separated by approximately 280 metres. The three on Mean Moor, in Barrow Borough, would follow a line northwest from the most southerly of the proposed turbines on Harlock Hill and would have a similar spacing. Access to the Harlock Hill section of the application site would utilise the entrance for the existing wind farm, off the C5018. A new access would be created to serve the Mean Moor section of the application site. This will be taken off the C5016 Ulverston Road, approximately 250 metres northwest of Harlock Farm. The turbines would have circular foundations with a diameter of approximately 7 metres at the surface and 17 metres below the surface. The hard standings at the base of the turbines would be approximately 50 x 22 metres during construction, to allow for crane and component delivery vehicles, and 30 x 22 metres post construction to allow for maintenance. The scheme also includes the construction of two temporary construction compounds; two on-site switch rooms; partial re-routing of one bridleway and one footpath (both within Barrow Borough); and installation of underground on-site electrical and communication cabling. The submission states that the final precise positioning of the turbines would be the subject of a detailed design process following consent which would involve further investigations. As such, the applicant is seeking a micro-siting allowance of 50 metres for all elements of the scheme. The proposal would provide a total maximum “installed capacity” of up to 11.5 MW, compared to the current wind farm which has an installed capacity of 2.5 MW. Applicant’s Activities and Ownership The on-site construction would take approximately seven months. The turbines would be operational for 25 years after which the development would be decommissioned, with all major equipment and above ground structures being removed from the site with the concrete foundations remaining. Any plans for repowering would be subject to a new planning application. The turbines on Harlock Hill are currently owned and operated by the Baywind Energy Co-operative Ltd. The two proposed turbines on this part of the site would be retained by this co-operative and the three turbines within Barrow Borough would be owned and operated by the applicant, Infinergy. The two sections of the proposal have been submitted as one scheme due to viability, and they must be considered as such. The submission states that the wind farm could meet the electricity needs of around 6,000 households each year and is expected to offset between 11,000 and 26,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. HISTORICAL CONTEXT 5950255 - Erection of 5 Turbines and Switch Room. Approved 2.6.1995. Implemented. 5960033 - Erection of 30m Anemometer Mast for measuring wind speed and direction (Retrospective). Approved 27.2.1996. Implemented. CONSULTATIONS: Pennington Parish Council Object because they believe it is not a suitable development for the area. It is unnecessary because the current Harlock Hill wind farm was due to be refurbished regardless of this development. Wind farms are increasingly being installed locally offshore which are more desirable as they do not affect residents’ lives and the Furness Peninsula is already sufficiently populated by wind farms. The Parish Council is not opposed to wind power as a form of meeting the country’s energy needs. Recently the council did not object to two wind turbines being installed on a farm as they were positioned with due consideration to the surrounding area and did not affect local residents and the applicant was the nearest resident to the development. This is not the case with the Furness Wind Farm as those proposing the development will not be affected by it in any way, unlike Pennington Parish residents. There are issues of noise and flicker with their associated guidelines which are open to interpretation and dispute. Reports of illnesses amongst residents close to wind farms, due to the affect of the wind farms, are increasing and gaining credibility. Previously, a proliferation of electricity pylons were erected close to residential areas until it was eventually proved that they could have an adverse affect on health and well-being. It cannot be guaranteed that the health of residents will not be affected. The Furness Peninsula has long been a jewel of the English countryside with spectacular views over Morecambe Bay and the Lakeland Hills but was unknown to many tourists. Pennington Parish Council has applauded Ulverston Town Council’s initiative in installing the Laurel and Hardy Statue recognising the success of the Eric Morecambe statue. This has noticeably increased tourism to the area which also boasts the South Lakes Wildlife Park. As Pennington Parish is on the periphery of these attractions, residents have also responded by investing in accommodation for the increasing number of tourists. This is bringing both much needed income to the area and creating much needed jobs for the area. The Parish Council believes the erection of wind turbines of this height will dominate the landscape for miles around, would affect the ambiance and affect the tourist footfall. The issue of government policy is also of significance. The erection of wind farms has been encouraged however this may change as has happened with solar panels with the financial incentives being cut. In conclusion, Pennington Parish Council vehemently supports the objections of Pennington Parish residents to the Furness Wind Farm development and would implore the council to reject the application. Askam and Ireleth Parish Council Askam and Ireleth Parish Council cannot support this application for the following reasons: It will impact on nearby homes as a result of shadow flicker. The proposal overlooks the village and there will be loss of privacy during construction and on-going maintenance phases. The Statement gives a Landscape and Visual impact assessment which concludes that the effects are minimal, this is a subjective statement not qualified or agreed. The Furness peninsula is of insufficient size to accommodate structures of this size, and they are too close to the adjacent National Park.