Agenda item

Erection of 70 metre high wind turbine and associated meter housing and access track

Erection of 70 Metre High Wind Turbine and Associated Meter Housing and Access Track

Consideration was given to the report of the Principal Planning Officer (Durham Area) which recommended approval of the application.

The Principal Planning Officer gave a detailed presentation on the main issues outlined in the report, which included photographs of the site. Members had visited the site that day and were familiar with the location and setting.

He advised that since the report had been prepared six objections to the development had been received, together with six e-mails in support. 

Councillor J Wilkinson, Member for Deerness Valley Division spoke against the application. His concerns related to the height of the turbine, its prominent location, impact on the landscape and the effect on the character and appearance of the countryside. He stated that whilst he was in agreement with the use of renewable energy the number of wind turbines in the area had reached capacity and any new application should have regard to cumulative effect. He considered that it would appear incongruous in the landscape as the other operational wind farms were a considerable distance away.

K Taylor, an objector addressed the Committee. He stated that there had been inadequate consultation on the application and that his concerns related to the height of the proposed wind turbine which would be visually dominant in open countryside, and the significant cumulative impact of an additional turbine in an area that was already saturated with wind farms. Due to the situation of residential properties to the east of the site, their amenity would be affected in terms of noise, vibration, shadow flicker and light reflection. He was also concerned about the potential impact on protected species, despite DCC’s ecologist raising no objections, and he reiterated the views of Councillor Wilkinson that it would not ‘blend in’ with the operational wind farms at Tow Law and Broomhill.  Access to the site would be from the B6299 which was a busy and dangerous road and he asked that this be taken into account in considering the application. Turbines had been known to catch fire which raised health and safety concerns.

C Picking, objector reiterated K Taylor’s views in relation to consultation and stated that a public meeting should have been held with residents. He was against the proposed wind turbine due to its size and location. He considered it unfair to those who lived in the village of Stanley Crook and he felt that it would prevent people from moving into the area.

Mr Layfield, the applicant advised that the purpose of the application was to diversify his family business and he provided Members with details. Fuel costs had risen dramatically over recent years and moving from the use of fossil fuels to a wind turbine would not only increase the viability of his business but would contribute towards Government energy targets. The location of the turbine had been carefully considered to limit any impact on his neighbours.

Mr Neary, the applicant’s agent stated that they had consulted the Council’s  landscape section on the proposed location of the wind turbine and Planning Officers considered that the scheme was acceptable in terms of national, regional and local planning policy. With regard to concerns raised about noise, it was considered that, given the distance to neighbouring properties, the likelihood of nuisance would be low. The Council’s ecologist was of the view that it would not impact on protected species. Due to the orientation of dwellings in Stanley Crook which screened each other, there would not be a significant impact on views from public areas within the village or from individual properties.  

In responding to the issues raised, the Principal Planning Officer stated that he was satisfied that the application had been widely consulted upon. Consultation letters were sent to 31 properties and site notices had been erected.

Ecologists had looked at the potential impact on protected species and had raised no concerns. Other species would be unaffected once construction was completed.

With regard to the concerns about the potential for wind turbines to catch fire, he advised that this was rare but was not a planning consideration.

He acknowledged that there were traffic issues in relation to the B6299 but the works involved in erecting the turbine would not be lengthy, and therefore he did not envisage that it would add to the traffic problems experienced on this road.

Whilst the wind turbine would be prominent it was not considered to be harmful to the visual appearance of the area because of its location. Open views were curtailed by adjacent woodland and the separation distance was such that residents would not be affected by noise or shadow flicker.

Page 12, paragraph 43 in the report which referred to a community contribution from the applicant was not a material planning consideration, was not requested by the Local Planning Authority and should be disregarded in any decision.

In considering the application Councillor Bailey referred to a letter submitted by Councillor B Myers in objection to the application on the grounds of protection of surrounding countryside, the scale and elevation of the wind turbine and health and safety of residents.  His constituents who lived closest to the wind turbine had to contend with views of an opencast site for many years and were now enjoying the countryside as it recovered from these works. If approved the wind turbine would have a significant impact on residential amenity.

Councillor Bailey reiterated all the comments made stating that his concerns related to the location of the wind turbine which was adjacent to a large wooded area and the impact it would have on wildlife and the countryside. The nearest turbine was 1 and a half miles away, the scheme would not create local employment, and he concurred with the concerns expressed by residents in terms of shadow flicker, noise, consultation and the risk of fire, especially in view of its position near to woodland.

Members discussed the application and a comment was made that in view of the scale and size of the wind turbine it was considered that the application had been made for commercial gain, and that its location at the entrance to the village was not appropriate.  

Members acknowledged that the cumulative impact of wind turbines in an area that had reached capacity should be considered but that this had to be balanced with the need to support the use of renewable energy.

Following discussion it was RESOLVED

That the application be approved subject to the conditions outlined in the report, together with an extra condition for traffic routing and an amendment to condition 2 for adherence with traffic report.