100 m 200 ft © Crrown copyrriightt and dattabase rriightts 2016 Orrdnance Surrvey 100023408.. 06/2014/1436/PFT Scale: 1:5000 Printed on: 3/2/2016 at 10:03 AM © Denbighshire County Council IXW WARD Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd / Gwyddelwern WARD MEMBER: Councillor Hugh Evans APPLICATION NO: 06/2014/1436 PROPOSAL: Installation of a single Endurance X29 wind turbine with associated access track, crane hardstanding, foundation and meter house LOCATION: Land at Hendre Bryn Cyffo Gwyddelwern Corwen APPLICANT: MrOwen Jones PUBLICITY Site Notice – Yes UNDERTAKEN: Press Notice – No Neighbour letters - Yes REASON(S) APPLICATION REPORTED TO COMMITTEE: Scheme of Delegation Part 2 • Recommendation to grant / approve – Town / Community Council objection CONSULTATION RESPONSES: GWYDDELWERN COMMUNITY COUNCIL “There is no objection to this proposal”. CORWEN COMMUNITY COUNCIL “Concern is expressed with regards to the number of applications for wind turbines in the area and there does not seem to be any community benefit for the application” CLWYDIAN RANGE AND DEE VALLEY AONB JOINT COMMITTEE “Although the site is approximately 3km outside the AONB the proposed turbine will be visible from the protected landscape to the south and east of the site. Given the scale of development (45.07m blade tip height), it will impact on the setting of the AONB and the special qualities of tranquillity, remoteness, space and freedom, particularly in respect of opportunities to experience ‘uninterrupted and extensive views from high places’. The committee recognises that the development will be seen in the context of a number of existing operational turbines in the locality which have already undermined the view from key AONB vantage points such as Caer Drewyn Hillfort, Pen y Pigyn and Liberty Hall, and that most views from the AONB will be against a hill-side backdrop and do not break the skyline. It is also noted that NRW considers the proposal avoids significant adverse effects on important views from the AONB and will be seen as a ‘minor middle distance component of the landscape from the AONB’. However, the Joint Committee is seriously concerned that the landscape of Denbighshire is becoming characterised by a proliferation of 40-50m high individual turbines outside the SSA which are gradually spreading across the countryside and creating a wind turbine dominated landscape. When taken together with the extensive operational and consented wind farms within the SSA, this is having a cumulative harmful impact on the setting of the AONB and its special qualities and features. In this context the Joint Committee objects to the application. ” NATURAL RESOURCES WALES Does not object to the proposal as it is not likely to adversely affect any of the matters within their remit – landscape, statutory protected sites, protected species and habitat considerations. Proposal would avoid significant adverse effects on important views from the AONB (Caer Drewyn hillfort, Glyndwr’s seat viewpoint, Liberty Hall in north Berwyn Range) and would appear as a middle distant component of the landscape from the AONB, set below the skyline where the Wern Ddu windfarm has an established presence. The Authority may wish to consider cumulative impact and the spread of turbines towards the Dee Valley. Advise that a minimum buffer of 50m is maintained between the turbine and any habitat features likely to be used by bats. The development will not affect any statutory protected sites. Response awaited in relation to additional bat and bird surveys: NATS No safeguarding objection to the proposal. AIRBUS No aerodrome safeguarding objection to the proposal. MOD No response received. DENBIGHSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL CONSULTEES – Head of Highways and Infrastructure - Highways Officer – Has no objection in principle to the proposals subject to a condition to deal with the construction activities and traffic management being applied. Pollution Control Officer – In response to the original submission, requested further information assessing the impact the operational Wern ddu windfarm may have on the background noise readings. Has forwarded additional information received from the applicants in mid January 2016 to the Council’s external noise consultant, and his conclusions are awaited at the time of drafting this report. Members will be updated on this matter in the late information sheets. Biodiversity Officer – Initial response Satisfied the proposal will not impact on designated sites, and that the loss of semi improved grassland will not be significant. Expressed concerns over the lack of survey for bats and the conclusions in the Ecological appraisal in relation to this group of species. Concurred with the recommendations for further survey of Red Kites. Recommended pre-determination bat and red kite surveys. Response in relation to additional bat and bird surveys: Satisfied that the likelihood of additional impacts to red kites within the area is limited. Bat surveys identify the presence of higher risk species but do not accurately define the use of the site by large bats, and the timing of surveys does not rule out the presence of maternity roosts in the vicinity. Suggests the imposition of a condition on any permission requiring relevant surveys to be conducted prior to commencement of development. Archaeologist – Accepts the Design and Access Statement thoroughly assesses the impact on known sites, but does not agree with the recommendation that no further archaeological work is necessary. Suggests as there are Bronze Age and Iron Age sites in the locality, and the site was open moorland in the Victorian period, an archaeological watching brief should be carried out during initial ground disturbance / construction in order that any previously unknown sites are located and recorded. RESPONSE TO PUBLICITY: No individual representations received EXPIRY DATE OF APPLICATION: 06/07/2015 REASONS FOR DELAY IN DECISION (where applicable): • additional information required from applicant • re-consultations / further publicity necessary on amended plans and / or additional information PLANNING ASSESSMENT: 1. THE PROPOSAL: 1.1 Summary of proposals 1.1.1 The application is for the erection of a 225kW wind turbine, a meter house and associated works including a crane hardstanding and an access track from an existing gateway onto the public highway. 1.1.2 The turbine proposed is an Endurance X29 225kW machine, which is a three blade turbine measuring 30.5m to the hub, a rotor diameter of 29m and the overall blade tip height would be 45m. 1.1.3 The meter house would be sited alongside the turbine and would measure 2.5m by 3m with a height of 2.5m. 1.1.4 The application is accompanied by a range of supporting documents including a Planning Statement, a Design and Access Statement incorporating assessments of g landscape and visual, ecological, cultural heritage and archaeology, shadow flicker, and hydrology impacts. Additional information has been submitted in relation to Cumulative Landscape and Visual Impact, Cumulative Noise, birds and bats. There are the relevant accompanying plans and drawings. 1.1.5 The Planning Statement advises that the applicants are Owen and Olwen Jones of Hendre Bryn Cyffo. It provides commentary on the relevance of national and local energy policy, and summarises anticipated impacts on the locality. It is stated that the development is compliant with policies and that taking account of the technical and environmental factors, the location is suitable for the development, and there will be no adverse impacts on ecological, landscape and visual, natural built or cultural heritage interests. 1.1.6 The submissions make reference to the project providing the local electricity distribution network with an average generation of 469,000kWh, sufficient to power up to 100 homes and offset some 200 tonnes of CO2 each year. 1.2 Description of site and surroundings 1.2.1 The turbine would be sited in an agricultural field in an open location and would be at an elevation of 285 metres AOD at its base. It would be on rising ground approximately 1.3km to the west of Gwyddelwern village, and 3km to the east of Betws Gwerfil Goch. 1.2.2 There are existing 46m high turbines at Tyn y Celyn and at Maesgwyn Ucha some 2km to the south east. The nearest turbine of the Wern Ddu wind farm (90m high) is some 1km to the north west. Permissions have been granted in the last year for 48m high turbines at Clegir Isaf and Clegir Ganol, 2km to the west (both within the SSA boundary). 1.2.3 The noise assessment refers to a number of residential properties in the vicinity include the following, with approximate distances from the proposed turbine : ••• Rhos – 520m to the south ••• Pen y foel - 600m to the south east ••• Tyn llechwedd – 830m to the south east ••• Bryn Deicws - 470m to the east ••• Tyn y fedw – 620m to the north east ••• Bryn gwenallt – 670m to the north east ••• Siambar wen – 620m to the north east 1.2.4 The plans at the front of the report show the location of the site relative to the Clocaenog Forest Strategic Search Area and to other turbines in the area, including respective sizes. 1.3 Relevant planning constraints/considerations 1.3.1 The site is in open countryside outside any development boundaries approved in the Local Development Plan. 1.3.2 The site lies just over 1km to the south east of, and outside the boundary of the Clocaenog Forest Strategic Search Area identified in Technical Advice Note 8 (TAN 8), i.e. the area deemed suitable for large scale wind turbine development. 1.3.3 The site is not within an area with a statutory landscape designation. The boundary of the Clwydian Range AONB is some 3km to the south east. 1.4 Relevant planning history 1.4.1 A formal Screening Opinion was issued by the County Council in November 2014 in relation to a turbine development at the site.