PLANNING STATEMENT PROPOSED THREE WIND TURBINES ON LAND ADJACENT TO HAMELDON HILL WIND FARM May 2016 1 PLANING STATEMENT Contents 1.0 Introduction to the Proposal ...................................................................................................... 3 2.0 The Site Details and Background ................................................................................................ 4 3.0 Energy annd Planning Policy ....................................................................................................... 7 4.0 Consideration ........................................................................................................................... 37 5.0 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 60 2 1.0 Introduction to the Proposal 1.1 AAH Planning Consultants have been commissioned to prepare a planning application for three wind turbines located adjacent to the existing turbines at Hameldon Hill Wind Farm. This Planning Statement provides an overall assessment of the proposal and sets out our analysis of the relevant planning policy principles which need to be considered in support of the application. 1.2 It is the purpose of this statement to bring together and provide an overarching assessment in light of the National and Local Planning Policy Documents to identify the parameters that have dictated the turbine’s scale, design and location. 1.3 Consultation is required for this application under the Town and Country (Development Management Procedure and Section 62A Applications) (England) (Amendment) Order 2013. The supporting Statement of Community Involvement describes the method and results of the pre- application consultation. This report should also be read alongside the Environment Statement (ES) (and appendices) and associated Non-Technical Summary which are submitted as part of the application along with the Design and Access Statement (DAS). 1.4 It should be noted that the proposed development is operationally independent from the existing wind farm with the developer FAB Energy Solutions not involved in the existing turbines. Nevertheless the proposed development would still be perceived as an extension to the wind farm despite there being no functional or financial link between the two. 3 2.0 The Site Details and Background 2.1 The key features of this development include: 3 additional wind turbines positioned to the east and south east of the existing wind turbines. Each turbine would measure up to 100m tip; The construction of associated infrastructure to include wind turbine foundations, crane pads, new and upgraded access tracks, underground cabling to connect the wind turbines to the National Grid, new substation/control buildings, drainage infrastructure and temporary construction compound(s); and Landscaping works including habitat management, improvement and restorative works. 2.2 The operational life of the development will be 25 years. In addition, 12 months would be required for construction and, following the 25-year operational period, 12 months would be required for decommissioning. Decommissioning would involve the removal of the turbines and all above ground components of the development. 2.3 The proposed development site is located approximately 1 kilometres (km) south-west of the outskirts of Burnley and 2km south of the M65 motorway, within Hapton County Parish, Lancashire. The land available for development extends east and south from New Barn Farm. The proposed site consists of an existing wind farm of three turbines (constructed in 2007) and three further turbines (constructed in 2013 under planning permission APP/2009/0756). 2.4 The land extends south from New Barn Farm consists mainly of open moorland and grassland. The existing vehicular access to the existing wind farm is via the track to the north-west of New Barn Farm, running past Old Barn which connects with the A689 (Burnley Road). This provides good access to the M65 to the north-east of the proposed development site. This track would be used for the purposes of constructing the proposed development, although other access arrangements have been considered as part of the EIA process. 2.5 The proposals seek a traditional three blade horizontal axis wind turbine. The appearance of the wind turbines would be standardised and would include a tower, nacelle and three blades as per the existing turbines in situ. The existing turbines comprise of three Repower MD70 (1.5MW models) and three Senvion MM82 (2.05 MW models). The models have been installed at a range of hub and tip heights as set out in Table 2.1. 4 Hub Tip Turbine Description X Y MW Height Height Model Repower 1.5 Original and Installed Turbine 1 380750 430105 50 90 MD70 Repower 1.5 Original and Installed Turbine 2 381124 429918 50 90 MD70 Repower 1.5 Original and Installed Turbine 3 381165 430117 50 90 MD70 Senvion 2.05 Recently Installed Turbine 1 380730 429879 59 100 MM82 Senvion 2.05 Recently Installed Turbine 2 380360 429876 69 110 MM82 Senvion 2.05 Recently Installed Turbine 3 380276 430283 69 110 MM82 Table 2.1: Breakdown of Installed Turbines 2.6 Candidate turbines have therefore been selected to compliment the appearance and scale of these existing turbines. These include the following: Capacity Hub Height Tip Height Rotor Diameter Turbine Model (MW) (M) (M) (M) Repower MM70 2.0 65 100 70 Enercon E70 2.35 57 92.50 71 Senvion MM82 2.05 59 100 82 Enercon E82 2.35 59 100 82 Table 2.2: List of Candidate Turbines 2.7 The proposed turbines will be constructed in the following locations subject to the application of a proposed micro-siting allowance: Description Grid Reference X Y Latitude Longitude Proposed Turbine 1 SD 81207 29690 381207 429690 53.763219 -2.2865555 Proposed Turbine 2 SD 81271 29423 381271 429423 53.760821 -2.2855684 5 Proposed Turbine 3 SD 81402 29876 381402 429876 53.764897 -2.2836088 Table 2.3: Co-Ordinates for the Proposed Wind Turbines 2.8 Based on the indicated turbines it is estimated that enough electricity could be generated annually to supply the equivalent of approximately 4,616 households. This could displace the equivalent of up to approximately 6,690 tonnes of CO2 emission per year from conventional forms of electricity generation. 6 3.0 Energy and Planning Policy National Policy Statement 3.1 Overarching National Policy Statement (NPS) for Energy (EN-1) was produced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change in July 2011 and sets out the national policy for energy infrastructure. The document is intended primarily to assist in determination of national infrastructure developments. However, Paragraph 1.2.1 advises that the guidance can still be material in consideration of planning applications. 3.2 The Overarching NPS for Energy is supported by the NPS for Renewable Energy Infrastructure (EN- 3), again produced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change in July 2011. 3.3 EN-1 Paragraph 2.2.1 sets the national commitment to meeting the legally binding target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels. Paragraph 2.1.2 identifies that energy is vital to the economic prosperity and social well-being and identifies that the UK needs a secure and affordable provision of energy. This is further expanded upon in Paragraph 3.2.1 stating: “Energy underpins almost every aspect of our way of life. It enables us to heat and light our homes; to produce and transport food; to travel to work, around the country and the world. Our businesses and jobs rely on the use of energy. Energy is essential for the critical services we rely on – from hospitals to traffic lights and cash machines. It is difficult to overestimate the extent to which our quality of life is dependent on adequate energy supplies. The major types of energy that we use are: for generating electricity – fossil fuels, renewable energy and nuclear; for heating and industry – fossil fuels used directly; and for transport – oil-based fuels”. 3.4 EN-3 establishes in Paragraph 2.7.1 that “Onshore wind farms are the most established large-scale source of renewable energy in the UK. Onshore wind farms will continue to play an important role in meeting renewable energy targets.” The guidance in EN-3 goes on to establish that the following factors are key in selecting sites for windfarm development: Predicted Wind; Proximity of the site to dwellings; Capacity of a site; Electricity Grid Connection; and 7 Access. 3.5 EN-3 goes on to establish the areas of potential impacts outlining the considerations which should apply. The headings included are: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation Historic environment Landscape and Visual Noise and vibration Shadow Flicker Traffic and Transport 3.6 Biodiversity and Geological Conservation are addressed in Section 5.3 of EN-1 and from Paragraph 2.7.30 of EN-3. 3.7 Paragraph 5.3.1 of EN-1 provides the following definitions: “Biodiversity is the variety of life in all its forms and encompasses all species of plants and animals and the complex ecosystems of which they are a part.” and “Geological conservation relates to the sites that are designated for their geology and/or their geomorphological importance.” 3.8 Paragraph 5.3.7 of EN-1 advises that “development should aim to avoid significant harm to biodiversity and geological conservation interests, including through mitigation and consideration of reasonable alternatives; where significant harm cannot be avoided, then appropriate compensation measures should be sought”. 3.9 EN-1 identifies international sites such as Special Protection Areas (SPA) and Ramsar sites as areas of particular protection along with Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). SSSI’s are protected to the extent that where a proposal would have an adverse effect development should be resisted. 8 The only exceptions to this are when the proposal would result in benefits clearly outweigh both the impacts likely to result on the SSSI and the broader network of SSSI’s. 3.10 Regional and Local Sites are to be protected as a source of biodiversity and for their contribution to the quality of life and well-being of the community.