Agenda item

Construction and operation of a Reserve Power Plant and associated infrastructure.

The Committee considered a report of the Senior Planning Officer regarding an application for the construction and operation of a Reserve Power Plant and associated infrastructure on land to the east of the Fire Station, Green Lane, Bishop Auckland (for copy see file of Minutes).

C Shields, Senior Planning Officer gave a detailed presentation on the application which included a site location plan, photographs of the site, site layout and example of a gas generator.

The Senior Planning Officer informed the Committee that an additional Condition was proposed that if the site was not used for a period of 6 months then the equipment would be removed from the site and the site restored.

Mr J Cook, applicant, addressed the Committee.  The National Grid experienced large fluctuations of electricity demand throughout the day and throughout different times of the year.  During periods of high demand, the National Grid aimed to increase supply to maintain a margin which was essential in seeking to eliminate, as far as possible, the risk of power shortages and blackouts.  Historically, conventional power stations could be operated with some certainty.  However, as the UK moved towards a more environmentally sustainable energy supply system, with an increase in renewable energy sources, there was an increased risk of electricity supply fluctuations, depending on prevailing weather conditions, and therefore an increased need for Reserve Power Plants (RPP).

RPPs were a simple and reliable way of providing relatively large amounts of electricity to the distribution network in a very short space of time.  The proposed development would be part of a network to ensure there was sufficient electricity available on the Grid as the UK increased its renewable energy generation and made the transition to a lower carbon energy supply system.

The proposed site was located next to an existing substation, into which the RPP would connect.  The proposed development would operate for approximately 3,500 hours per year, which was 40% of the total hours in a year. The generators would operate whenever called upon by National Grid. 

The proposed facility would take 4 months to construct during which time there would be 4 HGV journeys per day.  However, once constructed, traffic generation would be minimal as the facility was autonomously operated, requiring only weekly maintenance visits.

Environmental assessments which had been undertaken, especially noise and air quality, demonstrated that the proposed facility, with mitigation, would not have adverse effects on identified receptors.  Additionally, key landscape features would be retained and managed and enhanced as part of the proposal such as boundary trees and hedgerows.  The proposal would increase biodiversity of the site from the existing conditions through the provision of a low maintenance grassland and additional tree and scrub planting.

Councillor Richardson informed the Committee that he was aware of the site.  He considered the application to be a good idea in the right place and moved approval of the application.

Councillor Kay welcomed the application, which would address the real possibility of power cuts.  Councillor Kay asked who the applicant was and added that inverting DC to AC was an inefficient method of conversion.  Councillor Kay also asked whether the batteries would be recharged from the National Grid.

Mr Cook replied that the applicant was Sirius Renewable Energy, a local company.  If the facility was constructed it would go to an auction operated by the National Grid, and if successful, would then become part of the National Grid.  The batteries were only recharged by the gas generator sets and were recharged during periods of no demand.

Councillor Wilkes expressed concern about air pollution caused by the proposed development.  Nitrous Oxide would be produced when the gas burners were in operation and the facility was near to houses and workspaces.  Any air pollution caused by the facility must be damaging to health and therefore the balance was the risk of no electricity against negative health impacts.  The site was 60 metres from the nearest residential properties and less than 60 metres form workplaces.

Councillor Wilkes referred to Paragraph 33 of the report which stated that landscaping would include 16 heavy standard trees to strengthen the northern boundary of the site to mitigate the nitrous oxide, yet Paragraph 57 stated that tree planting would be increased from 7 to 16, which was only an additional 9 trees and the applicants document stated 5 trees would be introduced to the northern boundary, which was a woeful amount of mitigation.

The Senior Planning Officer replied that an air quality assessment had been carried out which had concluded that while there would be an impact on air pollution, this would be insignificant and the development would have an acceptable impact.  Landscape officers had requested increased tree planting to screen the site, not to absorb pollution, and the Senior Planning Officer confirmed that an additional 16 trees would be planted on the site, together with increased hedging.

Councillor Wilkes considered that the proposals to mitigate the pollution impacts of the development to be inadequate and contrary to Policy GD1 of the Wear Valley District Local Plan.

Councillor Clare informed the Committee that the proposed tree planting was for landscaping purposes and not to compensate for emissions from the site.  Paragraphs 32 and 66 of the report referred to the air quality assessment carried out which had concluded that the emissions would be insignificant.  Sustainable energy sources were unreliable and there was a need for facilities such as this.  To approve the application would allow for the move to low carbon energy production.

Councillor Kay informed the Committee that trees did not absorb nitrous oxide but did absorb carbon dioxide, which was a major gas produced by gas generators.

Councillor Nicholson seconded approval of the application.

Upon a vote being taken it was

Resolved:

That the application be approved subject to the Conditions contained in the report and the additional condition proposed by the Senior Planning Officer.