Proposed 2 Wind Turbines
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Allerdale Borough Council 2/2013/0037 Reference No: 2/2013/0037 Received: 08 January 2013 Proposed Proposed siting of 2 X 24.6m high (hub) wind turbines Development: Location: Snowhill Farm Caldbeck Wigton Applicant: Mr Maurice Smallwood Drawing N umbers: Draw No1.1 - Proposed Elevations Drawing no.1.2 - Site Location plan Drawing no.1.3 - Site Location Plan EWP50_F_001 Rev D- Foundation and Bolt Arrangement DR1 – Photographs/Photomontages/Wireframes DR2 - Design and Access Statement DR3 - Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment DR4 - Acoustic Data DR5 - Noise Performance Test DR6 - Wind Turbine Details AAH/1706/13PLA – Non Technical Summary AAH/1706/13PLA – Environmental Statement Constraints: Radon Assessment EN22 ASCA Area Policies: National Planning Policy Framework 3. Supporting a prosperous rural economy 10. Meeting the challenge of climate change, flooding and coastal change 11. Conserving and enhancing the natural environment 12. Conserving and enhancing the historic environment Planning Practice Guidance for Renewable and Low Carbon Energy July 2013 A ministerial statement by the Rt. Hon Eric Pickles MP was issued on 6/6/2013. The statement regards the planning reforms to make the planning process more accessible to communities giving local people the opportunity to influence decisions that affect their lives. The statement makes specific and direct reference to onshore turbine development and the view that decisions are not always reflecting the locally-led planning system. It is stated that action is required to deliver the balance expected within the NPPF and to ensure that protecting the local environment is properly considered alongside the broader issues of protecting the global environment. In this respect, the new planning guidance sets out clearly that: 1. The need for renewable energy does not automatically override environmental protections and the planning concerns of local communities. 2. Decisions should take into account the cumulative impact of wind turbines and properly reflect the increasing impact upon a) the landscape b) local amenity as the number of turbines in the area increases. 3. Local topography should be a factor in assessing whether wind turbines have a damaging impact upon the landscape (i.e. recognise that the impact on predominantly flat landscapes can be as great or greater than on hilly or mountainous ones). 4. Great care should be taken to ensure heritage assets are conserved in a manner appropriate to their significance, including the impact of proposals on views important to their setting. Allerdale Local Plan Policy CO13 - The setting of a Conservation Area, Allerdale Local Plan, Adopted 1999 (Saved) Policy CO18 - Setting of a Listed building, Allerdale Local Plan, Adopted 1999 (Saved) Policy CO19 - Protection of Scheduled Ancient Monuments, Allerdale Local Plan, Adopted 1999 (Saved) Policy EN10 - Restoration, after uses cease, Allerdale Local Plan, Adopted 1999 (Saved) Policy EN19 - Landscape Protection, Allerdale Local Plan, Adopted 1999 (Saved) Policy EN25 - Protecting the open countryside, Allerdale Local Plan, Adopted 1999 (Saved) Policy EN26 - Protecting nature sites of international importance, Allerdale Local Plan, Adopted 1999 (Saved) Policy EN27 - Protecting SSSI's, Allerdale Local Plan, Adopted 1999 (Saved) Policy EN32 - Protecting wildlife protected by law, Allerdale Local Plan, Adopted 1999 (Saved) Policy EN6 - Location of potentially polluting development, Allerdale Local Plan, Adopted 1999 (Saved) Allerdale Local Plan (Part 1) Pre-submission Draft Policy S1 - Presumption in favour of sustainable development, Allerdale Local Plan (Part 1) Policy S14 - Rural economy, Allerdale Local Plan (Part 1) Policy S32 - Safeguarding amenity, Allerdale Local Plan (Part 1) Policy S35 - Protecting and enhancing biodiversity and geodiversity, Allerdale Local Plan (Part 1) Policy S36 - Air, water and soil quality, Allerdale Local Plan (Part 1) Relevant Planning A screening opinion has been issued by the Local Planning History: Authority following the submission of the planning application. This opinion stated that the proposal did constitute EIA development. This was then verified by the Secretary of State by Screening Direction. Representations: Caldbeck Parish Council – object. Very prominent position on the skyline would spoil the character and appearance of this landscape right on the edge of the Lake District National Park, contrary to the advice within the Lake District Landscape Character Assessment and Guidelines. Ireby and Uldale Parish Council – object. Adverse effect on the visual amenity of the area, due to their elevated position on the southern end of a high ridge, which projects into and is surrounded by the LDNP. Material and harmful effect on the openness and undeveloped character of the area. Visual intrusion in open landscape to receptors on adjacent roads, walkers Boltons Parish Council – object. Elevated position and lack of screening means that the visual and landscape impact of the development would be deleterious to the surrounding landscape and have a negative impact on the LDNP and its setting. Impact on residents, walkers and cyclists. Harm tourism. Minimal benefits are outweighed by the harm. Civil Aviation Authority – No concerns raised. NATS - No objection. MoD - No objection. If permission is granted, the MOD must be informed of the date construction commences, the maximum height and the latitude/longitude. Environment Agency – No objections. Conditions/recommendations relating to surface water drainage, pollution prevention and waste management. Reference is also made to the Snowhill Quarry local nature reserve. Provided access to the turbine is not through this nature reserve, then no biodiversity comments are raised. County Council Highways - No objection subject to conditions requiring the road to be kept clear of mud during the construction phase, a Traffic Management Plan be submitted for approval, details for crossing the highway verge, and details of surface water drainage, parking, turning. County Council Strategic Planning - This is not a Category 1 application, therefore Strategic Planning will not be responding. Natural England 1st Response The impact of the proposal could have an adverse effect on the purposes for which the Lake District National Park has been designated. Note that the submitted LVIA states that the landscape within the vicinity of the proposed site is ‘transitional, and that new development may erode distinctive characteristics which include the uninterrupted views across moorland to a backdrop of hills. LPA must take account of the importance of the local landscape as the setting of the LDNP. 2nd Response Concerns relating to the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment submitted with the application. • The presence of the telecoms tower is used throughout the LVIA as justification that the turbines will have minimal impact due to vertical structures being present already. The telecom tower is taller, but is thinner and arguably will have less visual intrusion than the moving turbine blades. • The telecom tower should not set precedence for further vertical structures as these will then become a dominant characteristic of the landscape. References the fragility of the landscape. • Concerned that the magnitude of impact described within the LVIA is not adequate for some of the viewpoints. Changes to VP7 and VP4 would result in moderate/major significance. These VPs are located on footpaths and bridleways so would be experienced for longer periods than road users and by those experiencing the area for recreational purposes. • Acknowledge that the small scale of the turbines will limit the distance into the National Park that the impact will be experienced. • Refer to National Park Authority for advice. Environmental Health - No objection, condition recommended limiting noise levels for the nearest noise sensitive property. County Archaeologist – No objections. RSPB – No comments received. Stobart Air on behalf of Carlisle Airport – No objection. Cumbria Wildlife Trust – No comments received. Lake District National Park Authority – Objection. Detailed comments are reported in the assessment below. Arqiva – No objection. The application has been advertised by site notice and neighbour letter. The Environmental Statement has been advertised within the press and by site notice (by the applicant), in accordance with the EIA Regulations 2011. 45 letters of objection have been received to the proposal. The comments received are summarised as follows: • Incongruous with this sensitive landscape. • Negative visual Impact on the Lake District National Park • Incorrect reference to the National Park boundary – referred to being south, but to the east and west, it extends north also, surrounding the site on three sides. • Supporting documents do not meet the relevant guidelines of an Environmental Impact Assessment • There are many errors, misconceptions and conclusion statements without justification. • In relation to cumulative impact, it is unclear which other turbines have been considered, Clea Mire appeal site has not been included. • Incorrect reference to a scheme of 11-15 turbines at Ireby • Foliage/topography screening the turbines is incorrect. • The landscape within the site may be as significant as that within the Park, when visiting the site, one cannot differentiate between the landscape that it designated and Snowhill. • Receptors within the National Park do not see a boundary in the landscape as one does on the map.