REPORT of HEAD of PLANNING SERVICES to PLANNING and LICENSING COMMITTEE (SPECIAL MEETING) 24 OCTOBER 2011
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REPORT of HEAD OF PLANNING SERVICES to PLANNING AND LICENSING COMMITTEE (SPECIAL MEETING) 24 OCTOBER 2011 PLANNING APPLICATION FOR DETERMINATION BY THE PLANNING AND LICENSING COMMITTEE TABLE OF CONTENTS PL1 FUL/MAL/10/01070 SOUTHMINSTER PAGE No. 3 Wind Farm Development consisting of seven three-bladed, horizontal-axis wind turbines, each up to 126.5m maximum height to blade tip, with associated electricity transformers, underground cabling, access tracks, road widening works, crane hardstanding, control building, substation compound, communications mast and anemometry mast for a period of twenty five years. Also temporary works including a construction compound, laydown area, rotor assembly pads, turning heads, welfare facilities and four guyed anemometry masts. Turncole Farm The Marshes Southminster Essex Applicant:- Mr Jonathan Knight, RES UK & Ireland Ltd Agenda Item no. 3 Page 1 / 115 BACKGROUND PAPERS The Background Papers listed below have been relied upon in the preparation of this report: 1. The current planning applications under consideration and related correspondence. 2. All third party representations and consultation replies received. 3. The following Statutory Plans and Supplementary Planning Guidance and Advice, together with relevant Government Circulars, Orders, Directions and Planning Policy Guidance: Development Plans Essex and Southend-on-Sea Replacement Structure Plan Maldon District Replacement Local Plan The Regional Spatial Strategy - The East of England Plan Legislation The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 The Planning and Compensation Act 2004 The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) Order 2008 The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007 The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 Planning Policy Guidance Notes Planning Policy Statements Government Circulars Supplementary Planning Guidance and Other Advice (including draft Local Development Framework Development Plan Documents) i) Essex County Council Essex Design Guide for Residential and Mixed Use Areas Essex Historic Towns The Highway Aspects of Development Control ii) Maldon District Council Access to Opportunity – The Transportation Strategy for Maldon District Affordable Housing Cycling in Maldon and Heybridge Gypsy Sites Car Parking Maldon Town Centre Improvement Scheme Childrens Play Spaces Developer Contributions LDF Draft Sustainable Core Strategy Copies of all Background Papers are available for inspection at the Maldon District Council Offices, Princes Road, Maldon, Essex CM9 5DL during normal office hours. Agenda Item no. 3 Page 2 / 115 Agenda Item no. 3 Page 3 / 115 Agenda Item no. 3 Page 4 / 115 PL1 FUL/MAL/10/01070 SOUTHMINSTER Wind Farm Development consisting of seven three-bladed, horizontal-axis wind turbines, each up to 126.5m maximum height to blade tip, with associated electricity transformers, underground cabling, access tracks, road widening works, crane hardstanding, control building, substation compound, communications mast and anemometry mast for a period of twenty five years. Also temporary works including a construction compound, laydown area, rotor assembly pads, turning heads, welfare facilities and four guyed anemometry masts. Turncole Farm The Marshes Southminster Essex Applicant:- Mr Jonathan Knight, RES UK & Ireland Ltd 1. Introduction 1.1 This is a major planning application for a wind farm which has been submitted with an Environmental Statement that demonstrates that an Environmental Impact Assessment has been undertaken by the applicant as required under Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2011. 2. Site Description 2.1 The site and the surrounding area forms reclaimed marshland which is flat and open in appearance with long views across the area to where the land gradients change in the north and west, and where the land meets the seawall to the south and east. The majority of the marshes are between 1 – 2m above sea level (AOD). There are a number field drainage ditches which pass through the site and link to the network of ditches in the area. This part of the District is sparsely populated and comprises of scattered farm buildings and dwellings. The dominant land uses are agricultural and there are few trees/vegetation in the area apart two small planting areas to the west and east of the site. The roads serving the area are one and half carriageway width. 2.2 The application site is located within the existing farm holding of Turncole Farm. The site area covers approximately 43 hectares with the development totaling an area of approximately 9 hectares over agricultural fields and field drainage ditches. The seven turbines would be laid out in a linear type of arrangement along an east to west axis. The access tracks would link to the highway along Marsh Road to the south, which is the primary access, with two additional accesses linking to the Marshes road where Turncole Farm is currently accessed. Within the site various associated infrastructure with the wind farm and temporary construction works would be provided. 2.3 The approximate nearest turbine to building distances around the wind farm site are listed as follows: Turncole Farm (750m), Broadward Farm (780m), West Wycke Farm and Bungalow (800m), New Bungalow (800m), Poultry Farm (800m), Great West Wick Farm (830m), East Wick Cottages no.1 to 4 (1km to 1.08km), Redward Cottages (1.02km), Wraywick Cottage (1.05km), Montsale Bungalow (1.16km), New Montsale (1.25km), Old Montsale (1.3km) and Wraywick Farm (1.35km). In addition there are 14 residential properties located within 2km of the proposed wind farm. Turncole Farm has a financial interest in the wind farm development. Agenda Item no. 3 Page 5 / 115 3. The Proposal 3.1 Planning permission is sought for the construction of a wind farm development comprising of no.7 three-bladed wind turbines. Each turbine would measure a ground to blade tip height of 126.5m. The wind farm would include associated electricity transformers, underground cabling, access tracks, road widening works, crane hardstandings, a control building, a substation compound, a communications mast and anemometry mast. All of these structures represent the permanent structures. The temporary works associated with this proposal include a construction compound, laydown area, rotor assembly pads, turning heads, welfare facilities and four guyed anemometry masts. 3.2 The application is accompanied by a number of documents including an Environment Statement. The proposal seeks planning permission for a development life time of 25 years and is forecast in the Environmental Statement to provide between 13 – 16 Mega Watts of electricity to supply 7585 homes per year. Permanent Construction for the Duration of Wind Farm 3.3 Each of the seven turbines would measure a ground to blade tip height of 126.5m (415 feet). Each turbine is made of three key parts: the rotary blades comprising of 3 blades; the nacelle (also referred to as the hub) is the section where the blades are connected to the turbine structure which includes the gearbox and cooling systems; and the tower is the structure linking the turbine to the ground where the high voltage electrical cables are internally passed down. The turbine capacity would be between 1.8 to 2.3 MW (Mega Watts) and are operational at a wind speed of around 3-4 metres per second and a have a shut down wind speed of around 25 metres per second. The plans submitted and detail contained within the ES request a 50m micrositing area to allow for variations in ground conditions across the site. The colour and finish of the turbines is to be agreed. 3.4 Located adjacent the ground level of each turbine an electricity transformer enclosure would be sited. Each of these utilitarian structures feeds the electricity cables from the turbines which transforms the 690 volts of electricity from the turbine to a higher voltage of 33,000 volts. The high voltage electrical cables are run underground from the transformer to the sub station in underground conduits. 3.5 The on-site substation and control building would be positioned centrally within the site 200m south of turbine 4. The building would be approximately 27m by 13m which covers a gross floor area of 351m2 and would comprise of a control room, switch rooms, store rooms, an office, drying room, kitchen and WC. The building would have dual pitched roof and doors on the front and rear elevations. An air conditioning unit would be affixed to one elevation of the building. The substation distributes the electricity to the local electricity network and the point of connection would be located in the south west corner of the site. A compound area would be located to one side of the substation building incorporating electricity equipment and a free standing communications mast. An external light would be fixed to this compound area. Surrounding the compound and the building concrete and gravel areas would be created. Agenda Item no. 3 Page 6 / 115 3.6 The wind monitoring mast (also known as the meteorological mast) would comprise of a free standing steel lattice structure 80m in height and constructed on a concrete base. A communications mast is proposed measuring 10m height and covering a base of 2.5m by 2.5m. 3.7 The plans show that there would be three access points into the site. One would be located to the southern part of the site from Marsh Road and the other two would be located either side of Turncole Farm on the Marshes Road to the north of the site. The route to the south entrance from Marsh Road would be used as the main access to the site for all construction traffic including the abnormal load deliveries. Wheel washing facilities would be installed within the site. Access tracks would be created to serve each turbine and the access points into the site. These access tracks would be approximately 5.5m wide and would cross the field drainage ditches via new and replacement culverts.