Hameldon Hill Wind Farm Extension Planning Statement Submitted on behalf of RWE NPower Renewables Limited to Burnley Borough Council December 2009 Table of Contents 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................... 1 2 The Proposed Development ............................................................................................................................................. 2 3 Planning Policy ................................................................................................................................................................. 4 4 Planning Considerations ................................................................................................................................................ 14 Hameldon Hill Wind Farm Extension 1 Planning Statement 1 Introduction 1.1.1 This Planning Statement accompanies the planning application by RWE Npower Renewables Ltd (hereafter referred to as RWE NRL) for the extension to the existing wind farm at Hameldon Hill in Burnley, originally commissioned in February 2007. The applicant seeks planning permission for three further wind turbines and associated infrastructure, as set out in Section 2.1. 1.1.2 Renewable energy developments are key to the United Kingdom’s attempts to tackle climate change and to deploy cleaner sources of energy. Key Principle 1(1) in PPS 22 provides that renewable energy developments are capable of being accommodated throughout England in locations where the technology is viable and environmental, economic and social impacts can be addressed satisfactorily. 1.1.3 The North West RSS states that renewable energy technologies must now be developed to support an increasing proportion of the Region’s capacity for generating electricity. If approved, the proposed wind farm extension at Hameldon Hill could account for up to 7.5 MW, a significant contribution to the Lancashire target. 1.1.4 Full particulars of the proposed development are set out in the Environmental Statement (ES) which accompanies this application. The ES describes a systematic Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the proposed development that has been carried out in accordance with the Town & Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 (as amended). The EIA has considered the effects of the proposed development and the most likely option for a cable connection between the wind farm and the electricity distribution system (the grid connection). The latter is subject to a separate consents procedure and does not form part of the planning application. 1.1.5 This Planning Statement considers the land use planning implications of the proposal, within the context of national, regional and local planning policies. Current energy policy, relevant Development Plan policies and other material considerations are also considered. Reference is made to the ES where relevant. 1.1.6 The Planning Statement includes the following sections: • A brief description of the proposed development and of the site and its surroundings (Section 2); • An assessment of the relevant policy framework and material considerations to enable identification of the specific land use planning issues raised by the development (Section 3); • Finally, the Statement will consider any potential effects of the development on the local environment in the light of the policy framework and the balance to be struck between the benefits and need for wind energy development (Section 4). Hameldon Hill Wind Farm Extension 2 Planning Statement 2 The Proposed Development 2.1 Development Components 2.1.1 The proposed development is described in detail in Chapter 3 of the ES. In brief, it will comprise the construction and operation of an onshore wind farm including the following elements: • Three wind turbines within the maximum dimensional envelope of 110 m to blade tip with an approximate hub height of 69 m. Turbines with a rating of approximately 2 to 2.5 MW are under consideration, giving a total installed capacity of 6 to 7.5 MW. • Associated infrastructure including foundations, external transformers and crane hard-standing areas. • Upgraded and new access tracks. • One temporary site compound. • One substation and control building including underground cables. 2.2 Site Layout 2.2.1 The land available for development and the planning application boundary is shown in Figure 1.2 within Volume 2 of the ES. The planning application boundary equates to approximately 7.8 ha; however it is estimated that the total land-take of the development will be approximately 2.1 ha or approximately 1.5% of the land available for development. The proposed layout of the turbines is shown in Figure 3.1 within Volume 2 of the ES. This final layout was devised following a rigorous iterative design process, involving a wide range of consultees (refer to individual technical chapters of the ES), which enabled a series of technical and other issues to be addressed. 2.3 Construction 2.3.1 Construction will take place over an approximately nine month period, after which the development will become operational and generate electricity over a period of approximately 25 years. After this time it will either be decommissioned or a new application made for consent to extend its operational life. If the development is decommissioned, the site will be reinstated. 2.4 Grid Connection 2.4.1 Underground cabling will be provided between the turbines and the substation on-site and an application for the grid connection between the site substation and the national grid will be made to the network operator, United Utilities (UU). This will be the subject of a separate consents procedure and does not form part of this planning application. 2.5 The Site & Surrounding Area 2.5.1 The proposed extension to Hameldon Hill Wind Farm is located approximately 1 km south west of the outskirts of Burnley and 2 km south of the M65 Motorway, within Hapton County Parish, Lancashire. The land available for development is located towards the west of the existing Hameldon Hill Wind Farm site and is shown in Figure 1.2 within Volume 2 of the ES. 2.5.2 The land available for development consists mainly of open moorland and grassland. The site and immediate surrounding area is characterised by a pattern of large irregular fields, with occasional woodland blocks/belts associated with the watercourses crossing the landscape in localised valleys. A network of land drains and tributaries are located to the south of the site and flow northwards into Thorny Bank Clough and Tower Brook. The southern area of the site and adjacent land to the east, west and south are labelled as marshland on recent OS mapping. 2.5.3 The topography of the site and wider area are shown on Figures LV-6.2a and LV-6.2b. The land available for development lies on a rising north-facing valley side, approximately 100-270 m above the River Calder at 5 km to the north. The opposite valley side is formed by Pendle Hill at over 7 km to the north and overall the valley is aligned North-East to South-West. Hameldon Hill Wind Farm Extension 3 Planning Statement 2.5.4 The existing Hameldon Hill Wind Farm has been operational since July 2007 and comprises three turbines. The access/maintenance track for these turbines extends into the proposed site. 2.5.5 Disused Quarries are located immediately to the south and south east of the site at the base of Hameldon Hill whilst a Radar Weather Station with associated masts, tracks and buildings are located on the top of the hill. 2.5.6 The remains of Hapton Tower are located to the south east of the site. The tower had become derelict by 1725 and there are no visible remains present today. Hameldon Hill Wind Farm Extension 4 Planning Statement 3 Planning Policy 3.1.1 Section 70 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 requires planning decisions to be taken in accordance with the adopted Development Plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Section 38 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 provides that if there is a conflict between policies within the hierarchy of Development Plan documents, the most recent adopted policy would take precedence. The Development Plan consists of a set of documents setting out the local planning authority's policies and proposals for the development and use of land and buildings in the authority's area. It includes Unitary, Structure, and Local Plans prepared under transitional arrangements. It also includes the new-look Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS) and Development Plan Documents prepared under the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act of 2004. The weight to be afforded to such emerging documents depends upon the stage of production and is a matter for judgement in each individual case. 3.1.2 The relevant Development Plan/s for the purposes of Section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act consists of the following: • The Burnley Local Plan, produced by Burnley Borough Council. This was adopted on 4 April 2006 and on 1 April 2009 the Council received a Direction from the Secretary of State saving all these policies; • The North West Plan Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), published on 30 September 2008. • To date the Local Development Framework only contains policies relating to Core Strategy Housing: Issues and Options, which are not relevant to this proposal. • The Joint Lancashire Structure Plan has been replaced by the