Planning Application 2/2014/0582 Proposed Installation of a single wind turbine with a hub height of 24.8m and tip Development: height of 34.5m. Location: Oughterside Mill Oughterside Wigton Applicant: Mr J P Lister Recommendation Re fused Summar y/Key Issues Issue Conclusion Principle of Paragraph 93 of the NPPF makes clear that the provision of Development renewable energy infrastructure is central to the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Landscape and It is considered that the proposal has the potential for significantly Visual Impact harmful cumulative impacts on the character of the landscape and the visual amenities of the locality. Residential Amenity The proposed turbine is within 800m of a number of residential properties. The proposal is likely to have an adverse impact on the amenity of the residents of these properties, and there is no evidence of support from the local community for a separation distance of less than 800m in this case. Heritage and The proposal will not have a significant adverse impact on any conservation designated heritage assets or nature conservation interests Operational Subject to conditions relating to construction operations the proposed requirements development would not have an adverse impact on the highway network. Potential benefits The proposal will make a contribution to renewable energy deployment nationally. It would also make a contribution to the running costs of the farm by creating an alternative source of income, supporting rural enterprise and economic activity. Site The turbine is proposed to be located within an existing agricultural field that is on a raised hillside. The land is associated with Oughterside Mill which aligns the river Ellen to the south west. The village of Oughterside is located approximately 570m to the north east of the site. The larger settlement of Aspatria is also located to the north east, approximately 3.5m from the site. Gilcrux, is located approximately 1km to the south. The area is predominantly rural in character comprising a mixture of small to medium scale fields bounded by hedgerows, stone walls and fences. The landscape is undulating in character and the site itself sits at approximately 64m AOD and therefore is relatively prominent. The nearest neighbouring properties are in Beech Hill which is located approximately 428m east of the turbine site. Other residential properties are located in the wider area, with a concentration at Oughterside and Prospect to the north. Relevant Policies National Planning Policy Framework Meeting the challenge of climate change, flooding and coastal change Conserving and enhancing the natural environment Conserving and enhancing the historic environment Supporting a prosperous rural economy Planning Practice Guidance for Renewable and Low Carbon Energy July 2013 Allerdale Local Plan (Part 1) Adopted July 2014 Policy S1 – Presumption in favour of sustainable development, Allerdale Local Plan (Part 1) Policy S14 – Rural economy, Allerdale Local Plan (Part 1) Policy S19 – Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Technologies Policy S27 – Heritage Assets Policy S32 – Safeguarding amenity, Allerdale Local Plan (Part 1) Policy S33 – Landscape 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) Policy S4 – Design principles, Allerdale Local Plan (Part 1) Policy DM17 – Trees, hedgerows and woodland, Allerdale Local Plan (Part 1). Relevant Planning History A screening opinion has been issued by the Local Planning Authority which stated that the proposal Did Not constitute EIA development. Scr/2014/0020 – Screening opinion for wind turbine 24.8m to hub height and 34.5m to tip – An EIA is NOT required. Representations Cumbria County Council – Highways. Make the following comments : - During the construction phase no vehicle shall leave the site in a condition that would give rise to the deposit of mud, dust or debris on the public highway. - The applicant shall submit a Traffic and Construction Management Plan for approval, all identified highway works shall be completed to the satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority in consultation with the Highway Authority prior to the works commencing on site. Cumbria County Council – Landscape and Countryside. Advise that they will not be responding from a strategic planning perspective as they do not consider the proposal to be a Category 1 Application. Natural England – Make the following comments : a) Statutory nature conservation sites – No objection. b) Protected species – Natural England has published ‘Standing Advice’. c) Impact Risk Zones for SSSI ’s – Natural England has recently published a set of mapped Impact Risk Zones (IRZs) for Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Arqiva – No objection. NATS – Advise that the development is likely to impact on their electronic infrastructure. However, they have no safeguarding objection to the proposal. Ministry of Defence – No objection. Stobart Air – No objection. Electricity North West – No objection. Environmental Health – Comment that : The supporting information states that noise emissions are unlikely to present a concern in this case. However, no predictions of noise levels at the nearest properties have been provided. Therefore if permission is granted two specific Conditions regarding noise will be required to be attached to any planning approval. FORCE – Object and make the following comments : a) Height and Scale – At 34.5m to the blade tip and standing at 64m AOD, the wind turbine would be well in excess of ‘small scale’ as defined by the Governments Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). There can be no question that the proposed turbine would dominate the immediate vicinity and would be visible from a considerable distance in the surrounding countryside. b) Landscape Impact – The application site is situated within Lowland landscape category subtype 5a ‘Ridge and Valley’ according to the Cumbria Landscape Character Guidance and Toolkit (2011).This subtype is considered to have a moderate capacity for wind energy development which is defined as a small group of 3 to 5 wind turbines or, in exceptional circumstances, a larger group of 6 to 9. The reality is, however, that the area around the application site already contains a considerable amount of wind energy development and therefore we would argue that its ‘moderate’ capacity to absorb turbines without detriment to the overall character of the landscape has already been stretched to the limit. c) Energy requirements of the farm – Although it is stated in the Design and Access Statement that the electricity produced by the proposed wind turbine would offset the applicant’s energy costs, it is not actually confirmed that the turbine would supply power to the premises before any excess is sold to the National Grid. If the intention is for the turbine to meet the power requirements of the farm, then a much smaller machine is likely to be adequate and therefore the need for a 34.5m structure at this location in the open countryside cannot be demonstrated. d) Proximity to Houses/Amenity – The turbine would be situated just 442m from the non associated residential properties at Beech Hill and approximately 550m from the settlement at Oughterside. e) Noise – Some site specific measurements are necessary in this case for the protection of local residential amenity. f) Cumulative Impact – The agent has not carried out a satisfactory cumulative impact assessment. The map at paragraph 4.12 shows the wind farms at Wharrels Hill and Tallentire. Nothing further has been done to realistically examine the cumulative impact that the turbine would have in combination with others in the area. Part of the justification for the turbine is the fact that there are numerous other wind energy schemes in the area. FORCE feel that the existence of other wind turbines should not be used as a reason to add more in the same area. Also, the agent has failed to provide an accurate account of the number and location of the turbines which are already operational or which have planning permission. The application site is within very close proximity to the wind turbines at Hall Bank and Broom Hill, with 2 more further along the A596 at Bullgill where the Council is currently considering an application for an additional machine. More wind turbines have recently received planning permission at Crookdake, High Scales, Firs Farm and Leesrigg. There is an application pending at Arkleby House Farm which is also in the near vicinity. The wind farms at Tallentire, Hellrigg, Westnewton and High Pow are all either visible from the application site itself or from nearby. This is far from an exhaustive list of local wind energy developments. g) Policy – The development is contrary to policy S19 of the newly adopted Local Plan. Policy S19 contains a separation distance of 800m between wind turbines over 25m to the blade tip and residential properties. As discussed earlier, there are a number of properties which would fall well within the separation distance. It is also contrary to policies S32 and S33 which seek to protect residential amenity and also the character of Allerdale’s valued landscapes. West Newton Action Group – Object and make the following comments : a) Size – This is not a small scale turbine as defined in the DECC’s categorisation of such, and certainly is not either ‘modest size’ or ‘small scale’ as suggested by the developer. As such it would present a dominating presence to the residents of Oughterside and surrounding area. It is approximately equidistant between Oughterside Mill itself and Oughterside village. However, being due south of Oughterside it will have much more of an impact on the village than on its owners. This is due to the prevailing wind direction and any resulting potential noise problems, and the probability of shadow flicker. b) Public consultation – The Action Group note that the applicant’s letters make much of the amount of electricity used by the farm and their need to offset the overall variability of the farms electricity costs.