SCHEDULE A Complex Planning Applications SCHEDULE 3 SL/2014/0496 No: BURTON IN KENDAL: Land associated with Deerslet, Burton, Carnforth LA6 1JG PROPOSAL: Siting of single 46.3 m high (to blade tip) wind turbine Mr Steve & Richard Lawson Website Link to Application E352270 N475377 26/02/2015 SUMMARY Siting of single wind turbine 46.3 metres high to blade tip on land associated with Deerslet Farm located to the south-west of Burton-in-Kendal close to the boundary with Lancaster City Council. The main issues relate to visual and landscape impact of the structure and cumulatively with other consented turbines upon the Arnside and Silverdale AONB and surrounding area. DESCRIPTION AND PROPOSAL: Site Description: The proposed turbine would be sited within improved agricultural land which sits between the M6 motorway (between junction 35 and 36), along its western boundary at a distance of 300 metres, and the A6070 to the east at a distance of 440 metres. To the north of the site is a minor road of Tarn Lane at a distance of around 450 metres whilst to the south is another minor road called Cinderbarrow Lane. The site is located approximately 950 metres to the southwest of Burton in Kendal, around 670 metres to the south-east of Burton Services and close to the boundary with Lancaster City Council. The site is within in an area of undulating open countryside, on the southern facing slope of a drumlin and is an improved agricultural field which is bounded by mature hedgerows, the nearest of which is just over fifty metres to the south of the proposed site. On the same site around eighty metres to the north-west is a 26 metres high telecommunication mast. Other vertical structures in the vicinity are the 400Kv electricity lines and associated pylons which pass to the west of the site at around 330 metres away. The nearest residential properties to the site are at the applicant’s farm steading approximately 160 metres to the east which consists of three houses, and a range of agricultural buildings. To the south east and north east there are two groups of dwellings, across the A6070. The nearest of these are Millholm and Heronsyke at distances of 640 and 730 metres. There are no statutory environmental or landscape designations on or immediately adjoining the site, however the boundary of the Arnside & Silverdale AONB is located 1.2km to the west of the site. Burton-in-Kendal Conservation Area is located some 950 metres to the north-east of the site at its closest point whilst Saltmire Bridge a Grade II Listed canal bridge, on the Lancaster Canal, is approximately 400 metres to the south-west, a Grade II Listed milestone is 550 metres to the north-east, whilst Cinderbarrow, a Grade Listed farmhouse, is 780 metres to the west. Yealand Conservation Area is 1.6km to the west of the site and the village of Burton-in-Kendal to the north-east also have Conservation Area designation. On a wider scale the Bowland Fells Special Protected Area (SPA) is located approximately 15km to the south; Morecambe Bay SPA is approximately 6 kilometres to the south-west and Leighton Moss SPA lies approximately 3.5km to the west of the application site. Proposal: Planning permission is sought for the erection of a single wind turbine with a maximum height to blade tip of 46.3 metres. The turbine parameters are based on the Endurance Windpower E-3120 with a maximum 55kW output capacity. It would be a three bladed structure with a tapered monopole tower, a hub height of 36.6 metres and a blade diameter of 19.2 metres. The turbine would be sited on a 1.25 metre deep concrete base measuring 7x7 metres with grid connection via a cable through to the existing track down to farm buildings. It is estimated that the turbine would generate approximately 200,000 kW of electricity which would be connected directly to the grid and contribute to the farm business. The application is accompanied by a design and access statement which includes details on noise, photomontages and a Landscape Assessment and community consultation responses. It became clear that through the application process that this community consultation was very limited in scope. However by that time the application had started and consultation had taken part with the community and Parish Council. The agent has sent a letter which was subsequently sent out but no results from those consultations have been submitted. Further information has been sought from the applicant with regards to cumulative impact of nearby and other viewpoints and two further reports were submitted dated 05 September 2014 and 05 November 2014. Site History and other relevant planning applications: A single 70 metre turbine was approved at Burton Motorway Services towards the end of August 2013 by Planning Committee (SL/2013/0401). This has not been constructed. Planning permission for two 35 metre turbines was sought on land at Green Dragon Farm 450 metres to the north of the site and refused by Planning Committee in January 2014. The reasons for refusals were: 1. The proposed turbines would appear as prominent vertical structures which would appear incongruous in their surroundings and visible from a wide area. As a consequence, the turbines will have a harmful effect on the character and appearance of the landscape, and would thus be in conflict with the aims and objectives of Policies CS5, CS7.7 and CS8.2 of the adopted South Lakeland Core Strategy and saved Policy C26 of the South Lakeland Local Plan. 2. The proposed turbine would have a significant adverse visual impact upon both the setting and the special qualities of the Arnside & Silverdale AONB, and as such the proposal would be contrary to Section 11 of the National Planning Policy Framework and policy CS5 of the South Lakeland Core Strategy. 3. The close proximity of the proposed development to the adjacent approved turbine in the locality would result in a harmful cumulative impact upon the surrounding area, contrary to Policies CS7.7 and CS8.2 of the adopted South Lakeland Core Strategy. 4. In the absence of appropriate ecology survey information, there is insufficient information to determine the likely impact of the proposed development upon protected species in the vicinity of the site. Within Lancaster City Council administrative area two turbines have been approved but currently not constructed. These are at Greenlands Farm a 35 metres high turbine around 1km to the south of the application site and at Borwick Fishing Lodge, a 45 metre high turbine around 2.5km to the south of the application site. CONSULTATIONS: Burton-in-Kendal Parish Council: Object to the proposal because of the visual impact it will have on the area due to the height of the turbine. Yealand Redmayne Parish Council: Strongly object. The size of turbine is too high for this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and could affect the working of the telephone mast. Yealand Conyers Parish Council: Adverse visual and technical impact with cumulative impact of turbine seen from AONB would be detrimental to special area. Borwick Parish Meeting: Object. Believe the height of the turbine would render it a very tall, isolated structure in its environment creating a negative visual impact on area. Cumulative impact of turbine in AONB given flurry of other approved schemes at Greenlands Farm, Burton Services, Borwick Fishing and Quarry at Over Kellet. Likely that Conservation Areas of Yealand Conyers, Yealand Redmayne, Warton, Priest Hutton and Borwick would be affected by turbine particularly when viewed in close proximity to other turbines such as the one recently approved at Greenlands Farm. Priest Hutton Parish Meeting: Industrial commercial venture which has no place in this area and would have adverse landscape and visual effects and harmful to the character and appearance of the area. Rural area has many holiday dwellings, this development would not make people stay in the area and economic benefits would be severely reduced. A full assessment should be made by Highways and Police regarding the type and extra traffic emanating from this proposal. Lancaster City Council: Objects due to prominent position of proposed turbine which would be seen as isolated vertical structure from some views. It is considered that the proposal would result in cumulative impact in conjunction with nearby approved turbines on the AONB and the Conservation Areas of Yealand Conyers and Redmayne, Warton, Priest Hutton and Borwick. However given the distance and the scale of the turbine, it is unlikely that there would be significant impact on these Conservation Areas. Environmental Protection Officer: ETSU-R-97 (‘The Assessment and Rating of Noise from Wind Farms’) is the standard used for the assessment of noise from a single wind turbine or a wind farm at the planning stage. For single wind turbines or wind farms with very large separation distances between turbines and the nearest properties ETSU-R-97 suggests that a simplified noise condition may be suitable. Suggested conditions relating to noise emissions control and monitoring. Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB): Object The AONB Executive Committee stresses the need for development of any kind to take place in ways that avoid adverse impacts on the nationally important protected landscape of the Arnside & Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and its setting, including views out from the AONB. Section 115 of the National Planning Policy Framework states: “Great weight should be given to conserving landscape and scenic beauty in ... Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which have the highest status of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty.” It is the view of the AONB Executive Committee that this proposed development would have significant detrimental impacts on the landscape and special qualities of the AONB and consider that this proposal is contrary to both national and local planning policy and therefore raise an objection.