DEVELOPMENT CONTROL and REGULATION COMMITTEE 30 March 2010 a Report by the Head of Environment ______
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DEVELOPMENT CONTROL AND REGULATION COMMITTEE 30 March 2010 A Report by the Head of Environment __________________________________________________________________________ District Allerdale Application No. 2/08/0788 Applicant BT Plc. _________________________________________________________________________ PROPOSAL Construction of four wind turbines, ancillary equipment and on site infrastructure; Threapland Lees Farm, Threapland, nr Aspatria RECOMMENDATION 1.1 To raise an objection to the proposal. It is contrary to saved Policies R44, E34, and E37 of the Cumbria and Lake District Joint Structure Plan and the development principles of the Cumbria Sub Regional Spatial Strategy due to its significant negative effect on the landscape character and visual amenity of the area and the setting of the Lake District National Park, both individually, and cumulatively with other wind energy schemes. 2 THE PROPOSAL 2.1 The development site is located around 500m to the north of Threapland and 1km to the west of Bothel. The site is agricultural land. The Lake District National Park is approximately 1.2km south west of the site, and the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is approximately 7.5km to the north west. 2.2 The scheme involves the construction of 4 wind turbines, up to 125m high to blade tip, each with capacity of 3MW. It would provide a total maximum ‘installed capacity’ of up to 12MW. This could generate over 31,000 MW hours/yr of electricity and provide electricity to meet the needs of around 6,700 homes1. The turbines would be painted a light semi-matt light grey or off white colour. 2.3 Access to the site is proposed along the minor road that links Threapland with the A595, 250m north of Threapland Lees Farm. 5m wide access tracks would be constructed to connect with each turbine. 2.4 The proposal also includes a single storey substation and control building, sited at the south east corner of the site, 80m anemometer mast and crane hardstandings beside each turbine. 2.5 The scheme proposes to generate electricity for approximately 25 years, after which the scheme would be decommissioned, or a new application could be submitted to re- power the site. The proposal would be connected to the Aspatria-Wigton 33kV line, around 5km north of the site. 2.6 The site lies in a transitional landscape. Part of the site falls within Landscape Character Sub Type 5a – Lowland – Ridge and Valley and part lies in Sub Type 12b – Higher Limestone – Rolling Fringe. The Cumbria Wind Energy Supplementary Planning Document identifies both of these sub types as having a capacity to accommodate schemes of 3-5 turbines, or exceptionally up to 6-9 turbines. 2.7 This site is located 200m to the north west of an operational wind energy scheme. This comprises 8 turbines that are considerably smaller than those proposed on this site. Their overall height to blade tip is 76m. 3 REPRESENTATIONS 3.1 The Local County Councillor has received letters of concern relating to the close proximity of the turbines to properties in Plumbland. Allerdale Borough Council has received 786 letters of objection, 3 letters of support and 2 petitions against the scheme. 3.2 Allerdale Borough Council consults the County Council with regard to our views against saved Structure Plan and other policy. The County Council is not the decision making body for this proposal. As a result we do not consult with other bodies or 1 4,700kwh per year is the generally accepted average household electricity consumption. individuals. Allerdale Borough Council does this as the decision making body. Its officers will take account of all the comments received from other consultees when determining the application. 4 STRATEGIC ISSUES 4.1 The application has been assessed as to whether it would conflict with or prejudice the implementation of those policies that are contained within the Cumbria and Lake District Joint Structure Plan (JSP) 2001 – 2016 and have been saved to the North West Regional Spatial Strategy (adopted 30 September 2008). The application has also been assessed against the Cumbria Strategic Partnership’s Sub Regional Spatial Strategy (SRSpS). 4.2 The key issues raised by this application are: Whether the development creates a significant detrimental effect on the landscape character, biodiversity and the natural and built heritage [saved JSP policies E35, E37, E38 and R44 and SRSpS Development Principles]. Whether there is an unacceptable level of cumulative impact due to its proximity to other operational and consented wind energy developments [saved JSP policy R44]. Whether the development creates significant adverse effects on local amenity, the local economy, highways, aircraft operations or telecommunications [saved JSP policy R44]. Whether the renewable energy contribution and other social, environmental and economic benefits of the proposal outweigh any adverse effects [saved JSP policy R44]. 4.3 Additional guidance on the provision of wind energy developments in Cumbria is contained in the Cumbria Wind Energy Supplementary Planning Document. This was adopted by this Council in September 2007 and by Allerdale Borough Council in January 2008. This includes a detailed Landscape Capacity Assessment which indicates the potential capacity of different landscape areas to support wind energy development. This has been developed to enable a consistent and holistic approach to be taken when considering the effects of wind energy development on the distinctive and, often, high quality landscape character of Cumbria. 4.4 Decisions also need to be taken in light of the adopted North West Regional Spatial Planning Strategy. Policy EM17 covers renewable energy and includes indicative capacity targets for renewable energy generation in the region. When considering applications, decisions should be taken that encourage acceptable development that would contribute towards these targets and that help to mitigate the causes of climate change and reduce the consumption of finite natural resources. 4.5 The Environmental Statement (ES) submitted with the application covers a wide range of potential impacts including those that relate to the main policy issues outlined above. This has been considered in detail to help assess the impact of the proposal. Landscape and Visual Impacts Landscape Character 4.6 The site lies partly within landscape character sub type 5a – Lowland – Ridges and Valleys and partly in sub type 12b Higher Limestone – Rolling Fringe (Cumbria Landscape Classification 1995). The site is situated on the north west flank of Wharrels Hill. The hill forms a transitional landscape between the ridge and valley farmed landscape found towards the coast and the rolling limestone hills that rise up into the Lake District National Park. The lowland area is characterised by a patchwork of large, regular shaped open fields of improved pasture bounded by ditches, wire fences and some low hedges. Small shelterbelts of woodland and coniferous plantations are scattered through the lowland landscape and several small villages can be found at the foot of the ridges. Streams flow from the rolling fringe landscapes to create small valleys around Wharrels Hill. In the rolling fringe the landscape is generally open, fields are large and mainly pastoral and villages are scattered along hill tops and in valleys. The area is punctuated by large coniferous plantations, otherwise tree cover is sparse. An operational wind energy scheme comprising eight turbines forms a prominent feature and focal point. Electricity pylons are a recurring feature in the landscape to the south of the site. The Solway Firth and the Lakeland Fells form contrasting backdrops the site and landscape. 4.7 The site itself reflects several of the landscape characteristics of sub type 5a and 12b. It is generally open in character comprising medium to large size improved agricultural fields bounded by a matrix of low hedges and fences. Land rises steeply south west toward the telecoms tower and the summit of Wharrels Hill and the village of Bothel, and more gently to the villages of Threapland and Plumbland and the Ellen Valley. Trees are absent. 4.8 A Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment forms part of the Environmental Statement. This identifies the landscape character as set out above. 4.9 The Cumbria Wind Energy Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), 2007, identifies both landscape sub types as having moderate sensitivity and a moderate capacity to accommodate wind energy development. It suggests that the landscape has the potential to support up to 3-5 turbines, or exceptionally up to 6 - 9 turbines (and only in blander areas for sub type 12a.) However, this capacity is derived from a strategic assessment and each proposal still needs to demonstrate how it relates to local landscape character and capacity. The applicant concludes that the proposal, in conjunction with the operational scheme at Bothel, will exceed the landscape capacity of the area. I agree that this is the case. 4.10 The applicant has assessed the landscape effects from a range of viewpoints and has provided an overall assessment of the scheme on the local and wider landscape character. However, I consider that the assessment findings are weak with regard to effects on the landscape character within 2.4km radius of the site. The photomontages submitted as part of the application give the impression that the existing turbines are not particularly discernible from some locations, such as around Aspatria Rugby Club. Site visits confirm that the existing turbines are highly visible from this location and form a focal point against the fells backdrop. Therefore it is likely that the proposed turbines would be more visible and have a more significant effect in the 2.4km range than suggested in the Environment Statement. I consider that parts of the Landscape and visual impact assessment underplay the effects on both the landscape character and the visual amenity in the locality. 4.11 The assessment considers the effects of the proposal from different viewpoints within the landscape and on the overall landscape character.