COMMITTEE REPORT Application 12/00330/FUL Reference Land Between Bishops Itchington, Gaydon And Knightcote To The Site Address South East Of The B4451 Proposed erection of 4 wind turbines, up to a maximum tip height of 125 metres high, and other ancillary development including a new vehicular access off the Gaydon Road (B4451), access tracks, Proposals vehicular accesses, crane hard standing areas, a control building, underground cabling, construction compound and meteorological mast. Case Officers Neil Hempstead and Tony Horton Presenting Officers Neil Hempstead and Tony Horton Applicant Broadview Energy Limited Cllr Hamburger Ward Member(s) Cllr Mann Cllr Jackson Bishops Itchington Parish Burton Dassett (The application straddles the boundary between the two Parishes) Reason for Referral Scale of Development to Committee Recommendation REFUSE 1. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL Detailed application (as amended) comprising the following elements: • Erection of 4 x maximum 125m high, horizontal axis wind turbines (typically 80m height to hub and 3 x 45m blade length) • Associated foundations for turbines (each approximately 18m x 18m x 3.5m depth) and construction crane hardstanding areas for turbines (40m x 20m x 5m depth) and meteorological mast (20m x 10m x 1m depth); • A lattice tower meteorological mast up to 80m in height; • A control building measuring approximately 14.7m x 5.7m and approximately 4m in height, materials to be agreed; • Site access from B4451 and crossing point over Knightcote Bottoms Road linking northern and southern parts of the site • Approximately 3.25km of stone access track, generally 5m wide leading to the wind turbines and meteorological mast; • Underground electrical cabling and communications cables buried in trenches running alongside the site access tracks (grid connection point to be later confirmed); • Temporary site storage and construction compound including parking area, site office and mess facilities (maximum 80m x 50m) area during the duration of the construction period • Operational lifetime of the proposed development anticipated to be 25 years, construction phase anticipated to be a maximum of 12 months. The application was originally for 5 x 125m high wind turbines. However, during the course of the planning application the applicant amended the application by removing one of the proposed wind turbines (T1) from the scheme thereby reducing the number of wind turbines from 5 to 4. Some of the elements of the application are described in more detail below: The Turbines The final specification of the turbine would be the subject of a tendering process by the applicant as there are a number of different models available at this generating capacity. Each wind turbine would measure approximately 80m (262.5ft) from ground to the nacelle or hub. Each turbine would have 3 blades each measuring approximately 45m in length creating a swept/rotor diameter of around 90m. The maximum height of each turbine from ground to the tip of the blade when in an upright position would measure 125m (410ft). The tower of the turbine would be a tapering conical steel design with a maximum diameter of approximately 4m at the base reducing to approximately 2m at the top (based on the plans of a typical wind turbine submitted with the application). The tower is brought onto the site in 3 components and assembled on site. Each turbine blade would be transported individually. Nacells and hubs would be delivered one per trailer. It is anticipated that the external surfaces of the turbines would be finished in an off white/ grey semi-matt colour. The blades are made of glass fibre. Each turbine would have a subterranean concrete base measuring 18m by 18m at a depth of up to 3.5m reinforced with steel. The concrete will be brought onto the site in ready mix concrete trucks. An area of hard standing measuring approximately 800sqm (20m x 40m x 5m in depth) would be constructed for each turbine which would facilitate construction, maintenance and decommissioning. The hardstanding area is also necessary to accommodate the crane and turbine components during construction and outriggers which would be used to assemble the turbines. The turbine is controlled by its own computer system, which provides both operational and safety functions. In addition to controlling blade angle and rotor speed, a wind turbine’s control system must also align the rotor with the oncoming wind. This is achieved by rotating the nacelle in relation to the tower top. The applicant has stated that each of the 4 turbines will have a 2-3MW generating capacity. Location and Spacing of Turbines The location of the 4 turbines is split between two parts of the application site with Knightcote Bottoms Road running between. The turbines would be spaced apart approximately as follows (not taking into account possible micrositing):- T1 (Deleted) T2 to T3 = 400m (east-west axis) T2 to T4 = 400m (north-south axis) T2 to T5 = 560m (NW-SE axis) T3 to T4 = 580m (NE-SW axis) T3 to T5 = 420m (north-south axis) T4 to T5 = 380m (east-west axis) Site Access and Internal Access Tracks A feasible route to the site has been identified from junction 12 of the M40 via the B4451. All construction traffic would use the B4451 to enter and leave the proposed development. A crossing point would also be provided across Knightcote Bottoms Road in order to construct the two turbines to the south of this road although no construction traffic is envisaged along Knightcote Bottoms Road. Each turbine would be connected to a network of internal access tracks typically 5m wide, which would be required for the delivery of abnormal loads. A total of approximately 3.25km of tracks are proposed. The tracks would be excavated and then laid with crushed stone. Any field drains/streams will be culverted where necessary. The access tracks will be maintained throughout the operational life of the wind farm to allow maintenance. Special construction techniques and engineering proposals may be required for the access track in the vicinity of archaeological remains. Micro-siting The applicant has specifically requested that the final precise layout of the development including the siting of the turbines and the associated infrastructure be given scope to change through ‘micro-siting’. Effectively the applicant is seeking consent to reposition the turbines and other elements of the scheme up to 30m from the locations identified on the submitted plans. National Policy Statement EN-3 acknowledges that applicants are likely to need flexibility in a project’s consent to allow for any necessary micrositing of elements due to matters arising following more detailed ground investigations. The principle of micro-siting has also been accepted by the Planning Inspectorate in cases where appeals have been allowed. However, the extent of micro-siting varies depending on the sensitivity of the site and its surroundings. However, some restrictions have been identified by the applicant as part of the application process where micro-siting would not take place as follows: Wireless services - Turbines T2 and T4 would not be micro-sited any further west to maintain suitable separation distances from a Western Power Distribution link; Landscape and visual – The turbines would not be micro-sited closer to any dwellings within a 800m radius of the site; Ecology (bats) – The separation distances between turbines and the closest linear features (such as hedges) will be adhered to as per Natural England guidance. All the buffer areas identified in the Environmental Statement would be adhered to including when microsited with the following four buffers specifically highlighted as those being the closest to the turbines: Hedgerow/Bat feature buffer: 55m; Tree buffer: 75m; Road Buffer: 125m (Knightcote Bottoms Road); and Boundary of land within which the applicant has a legal interest: 50m. Construction Period Construction is expected to last a maximum of 12 months depending on weather and ground conditions. It is anticipated that construction will be restricted between the hours of 07:00 and 19:00 Mondays- Fridays and 07:00 and 13:00 on Saturdays with no work taking place on Sundays or Bank Holidays. Decommissioning At the end of the 25 year operational period or sooner should the development cease to become operational, the wind farm will be decommissioned, unless re- powering is approved. Decommissioning will remain the responsibility of Broadview Energy Limited (or any subsequent successors) and would have to be undertaken in accordance with the regulations and guidance in place at that time. It is expected that it would involve the removal of all above ground infrastructure including the tracks (where not needed) and the control building. In the interests of limiting environmental effects, all foundations will be ground down to below surface level before the ground is re-vegetated and reinstated. At present, it is generally accepted that removal of cable and electrical infrastructure is more damaging than leaving them in situ. Recent appeal decisions have shown that Inspectors have considered this issue and are satisfied that a condition requiring the submission of a scheme for decommissioning and remediation works on the expiry of the permission to be undertaken without cost to the Local Planning Authority is appropriate. Grid Connection The development will be physically connected to the local electrical distribution network (the grid) from the on site substation. Three options have been put forward by the applicant: 1. New cable from the site to existing line (twin 33kV circuit approximately 2km to the north west of the site) 2. Connect at Harbury grid substation (approximately 4km away); or 3. Connect at Gaydon primary substation (approximately 5km away). In the Environmental Statement (ES) the applicants have assessed connection of the proposed facility to the existing national grid based on the two scenarios of underground cables and overhead wooden pole lines.