Allerdale Borough Council Planning Application 2/2015/0213 Proposed Proposed 250kw wind turbine on a 30m mast with a 47m blade tip Development: Location: Aikton House Aikton Wigton Recommendation: REFUSE Summary/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. Regard should be had to the Ministerial Statement of 18 June 2015 which states planning permission should only be granted where “following consultation it can be demonstrated that the planning impacts identified by affected local communities have been fully addressed and therefore the proposal has their backing”. Landscape and Regard has been had to three recent appeal decisions for Visual Impact turbines within this locality, all of which were refused. It is considered that the proposal has the potential for significantly harmful cumulative impacts on the character of the landscape and the visual amenities of the locality. The application site is located within an area identified as having significant clustering of vertical infrastructure. Residential The proposed turbine is within the 800m of residential Amenity properties. Although the proposal would be visible from some residential properties given the angles, intervening landscape, topography and buildings this would not result in significant changes in views from residential properties. Heritage No significant harm identified. Ecology No significant harm arising from the development Benefits The proposal will make a small contribution to renewable energy deployment nationally. It would also make a contribution to the running costs of the farm business by creating an alternative source of income, supporting rural enterprise and economic activity. The benefits of the development are not considered to outweigh the harm of the proposal. Heritage The proposal will not have a significant adverse impact on any designated heritage assets Proposal The application seeks permission for the erection of a single wind turbine 47m to tip with associated infrastructure. Site The application site for the proposed turbine is in a solitary position within an agricultural field located approximately 480m to the west of the buildings at Aikton House Farm. Relevant Policies National Planning Policy Framework Building a strong, competitive economy 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 Requiring good design Allerdale Local Plan (Part 1) Policy S1 - Presumption in favour of sustainable development Policy S2 - Sustainable development principles (excluding highways) Policy S4 - Design principles Policy S14 - Rural economy Policy S19 - Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Technologies Policy S27 - Heritage Assets Policy S29 - Flood Risk and Surface Water Drainage Policy S32 - Safeguarding amenity Policy S33 - Landscape Policy S35 - Protecting and enhancing biodiversity and geodiversity Policy DM14 - Standards of Good Design Relevant Planning History SCR/2014/0039 – Not EIA development Representations Aikton Parish Council – Object to the proposal on the grounds of cumulative effect and visual impact. Kirkbampton Parish Council - Object to the proposal on the grounds of cumulative effects the development will have on the parish and other surrounding parishes. The area is surrounded by turbines within Allerdale and Carlisle City Council. The visual impact of the development will be observable from within the parish and many others. It is felt that residents of properties close to this application will have their amenity severely compromised if the development goes ahead. The development contravenes Allerdale Borough Councils planning policy 19 – residential housing being within 800m set back distance. Electricity North West – The development has no impact on their infrastructure or assets. Cumbria Highways – No objections subject to conditions relating to prevention of bringing mud and debris onto the highway, the submission of a traffic management plan and highway condition survey. Arqiva – No objections Natural England – Further assessment may be required in terms of the effects of the development on European protected areas (SSSI, SPA and Ramsar) NATS – No safeguarding objections Cumbria County Council – Will not be responding from a strategic planning prospective. The LPA should consider the potential cumulative impacts of the proposal Stobart Aviation – No objections CAA – No comments MOD – No response to date Environmental Health – No objections subject to conditions relating noise. The application has been advertised on site and neighbouring properties have been notified. There has been 5 letters of objection (including FORCE) which outline the following points:- Landscape impacts De-valuation of property Cumulative impacts Visual impacts Significant overbearing impact on the village of Aikton which is a quiet rural area Disturbance and noise from large delivery vehicles when the turbine is erected The development is within 800m of residential properties contrary to the Allerdale Local Plan No discernible benefits to the local community Concerns relating to the increasing number of turbines Noise Shadow flicker Long term health impacts Scale Dominant presence in surrounding landscape of considerably more than local significance The noise assessment refers to candidate turbines, there can be a significant variation between turbines Limited area of landscape study No proper cumulative assessment has been undertaken Effects on residential amenity Effects on wildlife Impacts on the setting of a grade II listed building contrary to the Barnwell manor Court appeal decision Main Issues: The proposed site is on land near to Aikton House Farm, 500m to the north west of Aikton; the application seeks planning consent for the construction of a single three bladed wind turbine up to 47m in height to blade tip (30.52m hub height with a 33m rotor diameter. The scheme would also incorporate a sub-station adjacent to the turbine, with access gained from an existing field gate. The colour would be a light grey matt finish. Local Finance Considerations Having regard to S70 (2) of the Town and Country Planning Act the proposal does not have any local finance considerations. Policy National Planning Policy and the Allerdale Local Plan (Part 1) are broadly supportive of proposals for renewable energy development. The need to meet national targets for the generation of electricity and heat from renewable and low carbon sources is recognised as are the wider environmental, community and economic benefits of such development. To ensure that the impacts of development (either in isolation or cumulatively) are, or can be made acceptable, Policy S19 of the Allerdale Local Plan sets out clear criteria for the consideration of proposals for renewable energy development, including wind turbines. The criteria most relevant to the consideration of this application are considered below. In assessing the merits of the proposed development it is necessary to balance the economic, social and environmental benefits of the proposed renewable energy development with any adverse environmental impact of the proposed turbine. A Ministerial Statement has been published on 18 June 2015 relating to the determination of wind turbine development the statement outlines: “ local planning authorities should only grant planning permission if: the development site is in an area identified as suitable for wind energy development in a Local or Neighbourhood Plan; and following consultation, it can be demonstrated that the planning impacts identified by affected local communities have been fully addressed and therefore the proposal has their backing. In applying these new considerations, suitable areas for wind energy development will need to have been allocated clearly in a Local or Neighbourhood Plan. Maps showing the wind resource as favourable to wind turbines, or similar, will not be sufficient. Whether a proposal has the backing of the affected local community is a planning judgement for the local planning authority. Where a valid planning application for a wind energy development has already been submitted to a local planning authority and the development plan does not identify suitable sites, the following transitional provision applies. In such instances, local planning authorities can find the proposal acceptable if, following consultation, they are satisfied it has addressed the planning impacts identified by affected local communities and therefore has their backing.” The Allerdale Local Plan does not have a map identifying areas suitable for wind turbine development; however, the Local Planning Authority has considered all the planning impacts identified in Policy S19 of the Local Plan and raised by the local communities. Need for an Environmental Impact Assessment A screening opinion was issued indicating the proposal was not considered to be EIA development; the application, in officer’s opinion is considered to contain sufficient information within the supporting documentation to assess the proposal. Site and surroundings The site is in agricultural use and occupies a relatively flat field and is bound by hedgerows. Access would be gained by way of an existing double agricultural field gate on land that