Planning Application: 03/02478/Wfc
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PLANNING APPLICATION: 03/02478/WFC In the event that a recommendation on this planning application is overturned the Committee is reminded of the advice contained on the front page of the agenda for Reports on Applications The Proposal · An application with an Environmental Impact Assessment was made to Aberdeenshire Council by RDC Scotland to develop Boyndie Windfarm which will comprise 7 wind turbines each having a three bladed rotor of 90 m maximum diameter supported on a cylindrical tower (68 m hub height) giving an overall height of up to 113 metres from the base to the highest point of the blade tip. · Proposed power output is expected to be between 2.3 mw per turbine giving a potential generating capacity of 14-21 mw for the scheme. · Majority of on-site access will utilise the existing concrete roads and runways associated with the site’s previous use as an airfield during the second world war. · Single storey site control building to be connected to the existing grid network via 20 m of underground cable and then by a double timber 'H' pole. The Site · Boyndie Airfield, Aberdeenshire is located approximately 1 km to the west of Boyndie and approximately 2.5 km south-west of Whitehills on land owned by Seafield Estate. The site is approximately 9 km from the Moray Council boundary line at Lintmill. The site is reached by travelling along the A98 then onto the B9139. · The site is part of a disused World War 2 airfield together with areas of land currently in use for arable farming and grazing pasture. · An existing electricity line crosses the site and there are two industrial facilities and a go- karting track bordering the southern site boundary. Policy / Objections-Representations / Consultations - See Appendix History See Appendix 1. Advertisement Advertised by Aberdeenshire Council in line with EIA Regulations. Observations The main issues raised by this consultation are as follows:- Visual and Landscape Impact of Scheme on Moray (S/ENV1, S/IMP1 and L/IMP3) Initial informal comments were given to Aberdeenshire Council in December 2003. These comments focussed on the information submitted. From initial inspection of the applicant's Environmental Statement (ES) it was apparent that a 15 km radius had been selected to address visual impact. This was not consistent with a generally accepted 25 km zone for assessment of visual impact. Aberdeenshire Council stated that "the visual assessment was undertaken within a 15 km radius of the site but at the request of SNH, 25 km ZVI's were included in the Environmental Statement. Both Aberdeenshire Council and SNH have been satisfied with this approach". The site chosen is one which has an industrial use and historic infrastructure which further reduces the environmental impact this development will have upon the landscape, i.e. track infrastructure (former runways), existing road access from the A98, and close connection to the grid. Furthermore, the ancillary buildings associated with the development will sit well in this industrial location. Aberdeenshire Council's report dated 27 January 2004 para 6.23 addresses the issues concerned with the cumulative impact of this scheme and in relation to those in Moray it states:- "Additional information has been requested and provided by the applicants regarding the cumulative impact of the proposal in relation to a nearby proposal at Aultmore in the Moray Council area, which lies approximately 15 km to the south east of Boyndie. Satisfactory ZVI's in various directions from Knock Hill have demonstrated that the potential cumulative effect of the two proposed windfarms will be acceptable in landscape terms. The comments of Moray Council regarding the refused windfarm at Drummuir being included in the cumulative assessment (should it be the subject of an appeal) have been raised with the applicants. The Drummuir site is approximately 30 km from Boyndie (and almost 20 km from Knock Hill where the cumulative impact was assessed0. At these distances the turbines will be a minor element in the landscape and it is therefore considered unnecessary for an additional assessment to be made. With regard to the weather conditions in which the visualisations are presented, it is considered that an adequate representation of the visual impact has been made." Landscape and visual impacts are addressed in paragraph 6.24 of the Aberdeenshire Council report where it states:- "Landscape advice from Scottish Natural Heritage on the proposed windfarm at Boyndie is that the layout and spread of the proposal should, from most public viewpoints, appear reasonably in scale with its surroundings. The formation of new access tracks which often causes additional problems from some windfarms (on steep sloping hillsides) will not cause problems on this site where much of the existing access infrastructure is already in place." Aberdeenshire Councils report recognises that the proposed turbines are large in scale at 113 metres and that it is inevitable that at a distance of up to 2 km they are likely to be a prominent feature in the landscape (PAN 45). They are however in agreement with the conclusions drawn in the applicant's ES in so far as the direct effects on the landscape fabric of the site will be minimal in extent and reversible when the development is decommissioned. In landscape terms the development is considered to be acceptable and in accordance with Aberdeenshire Council policy. In terms of Moray Council policies the Zones of Visual Influence (ZVI's) referred to above give an indication of the likely impacts the development may have upon views from Moray. Viewpoint 13 (Bin of Cullen) is indicated in figure 7a (Blade Tip ZVI) of the Applicants ES and is the only viewpoint chosen from Moray. Figure 8m (VP13) shows how the turbines will appear from this location within Moray. While it is accepted that all 7 turbines will be visible from the chosen viewpoint it is at a distance of 14 km from VP13. The scale and design of this development, a cohesive group of seven turbines, is such that the impact is minimal upon the landscape of Moray and does not raise any significant issues in terms of Moray Development Plan policies S/ENV1, S/IMP1, and L/IMP3. Similarly from analysis of the ZVI figure 7a it can be seen that where all seven turbines are theoretically visible they are at a distance of 10 km or more and do not have a detrimental impact upon the landscape or visual amenity experienced in Moray. The cumulative impact of this development when considered in relation to the proposed Aultmore windfarm development does not raise any significant issues in terms of sequential viewing or when viewed in conjunction with those already proposed in Moray. This is again due to the nature of the proposed windfram, specifically its scale (in numbers of turbines) and distance of viewing from the Moray area. In view of the above comments and Aberdeenshire Council’s report there are no further comments to make regarding landscape and visual impact effects on Moray. Transportation implications of scheme on Moray (S/T1 and L/T9) Figure 4a of the applicant's ES indicates the three possible delivery routes for 'exceptional loads' such as turbine blades, towers and nacelles. These are as follows: · Route 1 from A942 to Buckie Harbour onto the A98 then eastwards to Boyndie. · Route 2 from Fraserburgh Harbour on the A98 and then westwards to Boyndie. · Route 3 from A96 at Aberdeen to A97 east of Huntly and then the B9025 north of Aberchirder onto the A95 and A98 junction. Aberdeenshire Council's report has highlighted the need to consult Moray's Roads Authority where Route 1 is chosen and Grampian Police who will have to escort around 50 exceptional loads over a three month period. From initial discussions with the applicant and the Transportation Manager there is concern where the loads would pass under the Cullen Viaduct as this presents a very narrow stretch of road with little space for manoeuvre. It should also be noted that this structure is a Category 'B' listed building and any temporary alterations would be subject to formal consents procedure. In terms of transportation where the applicant chooses route 1 it is recommended that full consultation/liaison between the Moray Council, Historic Scotland, and Grampian Police is undertaken and any issues occurring from this chosen route be fully addressed prior to commencement of works on site. Recommendation No objections to development. Author/Contact Officer: Kenneth S Shand Ext: 01343 563374 Principal Planning Officer Signature ............................................................ (Joe Geoghegan, Development Control Manager) R A STEWART DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES APPENDIX POLICY Moray Structure Plan and/or Moray Local Plan 2000 Proposal S/ED4A: Renewable Energy The Moray Council will review the areas of greatest potential for wind farms in order to provide a policy framework for the Local Plan. Policy L/ED10: Renewable Energy Proposals Proposals for renewable energy will be considered favourably where they meet the following criteria:- i) they are compatible with policies to safeguard and enhance the built and natural environment (see chapter two). High design and siting standards will be sought in all new developments. ii) they do not lead to the permanent loss or permanent damage to, prime agricultural land. iii) they are compatible with tourism/recreational facilities. iv) they do not interfere with aircraft activity. v) they do not result in an unacceptable impact in terms of visual intrusion, noise, electro magnetic disturbance, pollution, traffic generation or damage to the local ecology. vi) they do not result in an unacceptable cumulative impact. Proposals may be required to provide 'decommissioning arrangements' to illustrate how the site will be re-instated if and when the plant ceases to operate - this may be enforced by condition of consent through the use of section 75 agreement.