Allerdale Borough Council Planning Application 2/2014/0861 Proposed Erection of 1no. wind turbine 45m to hub 67m to tip and associated Development: works. Location: Drumleaning Farm Drumleaning Wigtojn Recommendation: Refused 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. 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. Residential The proposed turbine is within the 800m of residential Amenity properties. Although the applicants have sought to demonstrate that the proposal will not have a significant effect on residential amenity the proposal will nevertheless result in noticeable changes in views from a number of residential properties. Heritage No significant harm identified. 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. Proposal The application seeks permission for the erection of a single wind turbine 67m to tip with associated infrastructure. Site The application site for the proposed turbine is within an agricultural field located approximately 500m to the east of the buildings at Drumleaning 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/2014/0099 – Screening Opinion – Not EIA development Representations Aikton Parish Council – Object to the proposal on the grounds of size, cumulative effect and the turbine would be visible from St Andrews Church which is a grade I listed building. Thursby Parish Council - Object to the proposal on the grounds of saturation of wind turbines within the area, within site of a listed building, noise, visual amenity and the fact that the proposal is within 800m of a number of dwellings. 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 – no objections 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 CAA – No objections English Heritage – No objections MOD – No objections subject to the installation of aviation lighting and details of construction timing, maximum height and co-ordinates of turbines. Environmental Health – Comment that the noise assessment appears not to have considered whether there are any other existing or approved wind turbines within 1km of the proposed turbine. Based on the principles of the Institute of Acoustics good practice guide to the application of ETSU-R-97 consideration should be given to cumulative noise impacts from other wind farms in the locality. If the proposed wind turbine produces noise levels within 10dB of any existing wind farms at the same receptor location then a cumulative noise impact assessment is necessary. Subject to confirmation that a cumulative noise assessment is not required, they would not object to the proposal subject to conditions relating to noise. The application has been advertised on site and neighbouring properties have been notified. There have been 7 letters of support which outline the support for renewable energy, investing in the future of the business There has been 11 letters of objection (including FORCE and Westnewton Action Group) which outline the following points:- • Landscape impacts • Cumulative impacts • Scale • Noise • Shadow flicker • Environmental impacts • Effects on the Solway Coast AONB • Effects on Lake District National Park • Effects on wildlife • Effects on nearby communities and nearby properties • Loss of amenity • The development is within 800m of residential properties • Reduction in house prices and potential to make a property unsaleable • Safety of wind turbine – blowing over, catching fire, ice falling from blades and parts becoming detached • Alternative energy sources are available e.g. solar • The applicant would not be able to view the turbine from their property • The natural screening referred to in the application is only temporary as much is deciduous • The photomontages do not provide an accurate reflection e.g. positioning of trees • The cumulative impact radius is too small and not in accordance with Cumbria Wind Energy Supplementary Planning Documentation • Some turbine have been omitted from the assessment such as the turbines at Great Orton, How End Thursby and High Pow • Other appeal decisions within the locality highlight cumulative concerns Main Issues: The application has been called in by Councillor Patricia Macdonald The proposed site is on land near to Drumleaning Farm, 1.2km to the south of Aikton; the application seeks planning consent for the construction of a single three bladed wind turbine up to 67m in height to blade tip (45m hub height with a 44m rotor diameter. The scheme would also incorporate a sub-station building adjacent to the base of the turbine, with an access track 5m by 80m and a crane hard standing 25m by 30m. The colour would be a light grey mat 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. 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 flat field which slopes down from the north of the site and is bound by a stream to the north and hedgerows to the south and east. A new access track would be formed onto the public highway on land that is within control of the applicant. The surrounding area is rural in nature, with a number of interspersed single dwellings or farms and small clusters of dwellings and small villages; Wigton is the nearest town 3.15km to the south west, with the village of Aikton is 1.3km to the north, Parton is 800m to the south and Thornby Villa 1.1km to the east. The National Park boundary is approximately 10.77km to the south with the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) 7km to the north. There are numerous wind farm developments within this part of the borough, of note:- Within 5km: • Greyrigg House 695m to the south east 20m turbine approved but not erected • Thornby Villa 894m to north east (34.6m to tip) • Moorhouse Hall 900m to south west (24.9m to tip) • Moordyke, Aikton 2.4km to north (1 turbine 34.5m to tip) • Great Orton wind farm 3.7km to north east (6 turbines 69m to tip) • Thursby 4.6km to south east (1 turbine 74m to tip) • A single turbine with a height of 74m to hub was given consent by Carlisle City Council at Midtown Farm, Great Orton 4.7km to north east Large scale wind turbine development in excess of 5km: • Great Orton Farm 7.5km to the east (3 turbines, 2 at 86.45m to tip and 1 at 65m to tip) • High Pow 9.4 km to south (3 turbines 95m to tip) • Brayton Park, 13.4km to the south west (1 turbine 60m to tip). • Parkhead windfarm is 14.33km (4 turbines 121m to tip) to the west. • Wharrels Hill wind farm (8 turbines 81m to tip) is 16.2km to the south west. • Westnewton windfarm (3 turbines 107m to tip) 16.5km to the south west • Tallentire windfarm is 21.2km to the south west (86m to tip) An application for a m tall turbine at park House Aikton (2/2014/02920) was refused on cumulative grounds and the proliferation of turbines in the area. This application is presently the subject of an appeal.