Special Planning Control Committee Bullington Cross Wind Farm 13
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Special Planning Control Committee Bullington Cross Wind Farm 13/00800/FUL, 13/0046/FUL(B&DBC) & 13/00753/FULLN (TVBC) Update Sheet Monday 16 th June 2014 The information set out in this Update Sheet includes details relating to public speaking and any change in circumstances and/or additional information received after the agenda was published. 1 Ref No Address Recommendation Item No 1 13/00800/FUL, Proposed Bullington Cross Wind REFUSE 13/00046/FUL( Farm Site, Norton, Sutton Scotney, B&DBC) Hampshire 13/00753/FULL N (TVBC) Agenda Page: Officer Presenting: Dave Dimon Public Speaking Objectors: Darcy Ladd – Chilbolton Observatory Graham & Jackie Hensman Christopher Napier – CPRE Douglas Paterson – Keep Hampshire Green Philip Dowson – Dever Society Eva Butler – Tufton Warren Martin Leay & Anthony Fortescue – Tesbourne Estate Gerald Smith (possibly Suzanne Church) – Popham Airfield Parish Council representatives: Lucy Dowson - Wonston PC Anne Peal or June Perins – South Wonston PC Cllr Annabel Smyth-Osbourne – Bullington PC Ward Councillor: Cllr Malcolm Wright (WCC Wonston & Micheldever) Cllr Tom Thacker (County Councillor – BDBC) Cllr Paula Baker (BDBC) Cllr Stephen Godfrey (WCC Wonston & Micheldever) Cllr Ian Tilbury (BDBC Laverstoke & Steventon) Cllr Mark Williams (BDBC Hurstbourne & Prior) Cllr Caroline Jolly (BDBC Laverstoke & Freefolk) Supporters: Jeremy James Heath-Caldwell Martin Heath – Hampshire Renewable Energy Co-op Helen Jones Tanya Rahman Alan Walker Patrick Geraets Applicant: Darren Cumming and Ernie Shelton - EDF 2 Update (Section 4) Public Consultation Process TVBC REPRESENTATIONS The application received a large number of representations in the form of emails, letters and also a petition. The representations were made both in support of and objecting to the proposed development. A petition was received that was signed by 3081 people. It stated the following: “I, the undersigned, would like to register my strong objection to the proposed Bullington Cross and Woodmancott wind farm developments in Hampshire. This is due to the concerns of air safety in the area of intense Micro light activity and intense military aircraft. There are great dangers of mid-air collisions or engine failure on take-off, due to the excessive height of the 415ft wind turbines”. 1232 letters and emails – Objection: This sentence was used as the basis for a significant number of the letters. Additional comments were then added in many cases. “As someone who values the countryside I object to the proposed wind farm near Bullington Cross because these moving industrial structures will spoil the tranquillity and scenic beauty of the Hampshire Countryside.” Comments relating to construction and operational issues: • Access impact and traffic danger/distraction for drivers on A303/A34 • Physical impact of development including access and equipment and connection 1 to the grid • Noise and disruption during construction and decommissioning • Danger to aviation –military and light aircraft/microlights Interference with radar or TV/radio/telecom signals • Industrial activity on agricultural land • There are better ways of making small amounts of electricity • Many countries are rethinking their approach to wind and no longer investing • What about the energy involved in commissioning/decommissioning Environmental Issues • Adverse impact on local amenity due to size and design – visually intrusive and harms the tranquil landscape character • Detracts from wider landscape character including AONB • Impact of low frequency noise and vibration when in operation • Adverse impact on users of footpaths, PROWs and bridleways • Harmful to archaeology and heritage assets including Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas • Need to value the countryside as there are very few spaces with unencumbered views • Not enough wind Impact on people • Shadow flicker effect from moving blades and impact of warning lights • Effect of low frequency noise and vibration on people • Evidence is mounting that ETSU-R-97 is insufficient to protect residents and noise • Proximity to dwellings – 2km separation distance required between turbines and houses Ecological Issues • Adverse impact on birds as a result of birdstrike, loss of habitat, disturbance and ability to hunt • Impact on bats as a result of barotrauma, inability to navigate around the turbines • Adverse impact on plant species • Loss of habitat • Impact on birds breeding sites Other Matters • Proposal is subsidy driven – only viable due to Government subsidy and then puts up energy costs • Inefficiency of wind turbines – only work 25% of the time • Harmful to local businesses/tourism in the area • Devalue properties • The manufacturing and construction processes creates more carbon dioxide than is saved through use of the turbines 1312 letters and emails Support: 2 A significant number of the representations were in the form of an email stating the following; “I fully support the wind farm at Bullington Cross. It should also be partially owned for the benefit of the local community.” Additional and/or separate comments were then added to many of the emails and the reasons for support were: • Helps to meet Government and/or Hampshire green energy obligations. • Reduces carbon dioxide emissions and better than nuclear or fracking • Should include element of local community ownership • Wind turbines are interesting features in the landscape • Quiet, modern and efficient way of generating clean, renewable energy • Not in an ecologically sensitive area • Should visit France and Germany to see how many wind farms have been built – they may enhance the views • Land based wind power has the potential to create local jobs and improve local power resilience • Noise emissions are insignificant compared to the road noise from A34 and A303 • The local wildlife is more at risk from climate change than it is from the installation of wind power Additional representations received since the publication of the main agenda report: Test Valley Support 196 Object 1 Total for Test Valley Support 1312 Object 1232 + 3081 petition WCC Support 31 Object 1 Total for WCC 3 Support 1816 Object 1359 + 3081 petition (Section 5) Consultation Responses BDBC Para 5.41 main papers – additional Tree Officer comments Satisfactory arrangements shown for Freefolk wood. If approving would want conditions to secure 15m buffer for Freefolk wood and an additional condition demonstrating acceptable buffers or working methods to protect other trees / hedgerows. TVBC CONSULTATIONS The following consultation response from the TVBC Conservation Officer was omitted from the main agenda report and is set out below: Design and Conservation – Object The proposed development by virtue of its design, scale and location would fail to preserve the architectural and historic setting of designated heritage assets within Test Valley. The closest and most affect ed designated heritage assets are Firgo Farm (Grade II), Bullington House (Grade II), St. Michaels Church, Lower Bullington (Grade II*), Barton Stacey Conservation Area and Tidbury Ring (SAM). The proposed development would have an adverse impact on their settings which are an aspect of their significance. As such the proposals do not comply with S.66 and S.72 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 or with policy ENV17 of the Test Valley Borough Local Plan and are contrary to Section 12 of the National Planning Policy Framework. The proposal is for an array of 14 wind turbines to be sited on land at Bullington Cross, where the boundaries to Test Valley Borough Council, Basingstoke and Dean Borough Council and Winchester City Co uncil converge. The part of the site within Test Valley would encompass 3 of the wind turbines, with the remainder lying within the boundaries of the two neighbouring local authorities. These proposed wind turbines are likely to be visible from numerous l ocations within Test Valley due to the topography of the site (with land levels approximately 90 to 110m above sea level) and by virtue of the overall height 4 of the wind turbines (overall height of 126.25m as measured from the ground to the rotor blade) , which as a result of their size and form, with large rotating blades, represent industrial scaled moving features incongruous to this part of Hampshire, where there are known heritage assets (Schedule Ancient Monuments, Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas). The submitted Environmental Statement produced by PMSS has identified a ‘Zone of Theoretical Visibility’ based on the site’s topography and the maximum height of the wind turbine (to blade tip height) calculated to encompass an area up to 30km f rom the site. However, for the purposes of assessing the visual impact the proposed wind farm would have on the setting of those designated heritage assets that fall within the Zone of Theoretical Visibility a 5km radius from the project site has been dete rmined (following advice from English Heritage) should be the parameter for assessments of impact. The assessment undertaken by PMSS follows well established methodologies, as set out in guidance produced by English Heritage, for ranking the significance of heritage assets and the setting of the asset. With respect to those designated heritage assets that lie within Test Valley and would be situated within 5km distance of the proposed site these would include Tidbury Ring (Schedule Ancient Monument), the Grade I Listed Building Church of St Nicholas’s in Longparish, the Grade II* Listed Buildings of St