Agenda and minutes

Any information received after the agenda has been published, relevant to the Applications on the agenda to be considered by the Committee, will be published here.

There were no apologies for absence received.

          Councillor Harrington declared that he has associations with the Newborough Landscape Protection Group, but only with regards to the proposed solar and wind farms at Morris Fen and Newborough. He had not been associated with any other solar or wind farm applications in the Thorney Area.

          Councillor Serluca stated that Mrs Caprio, one of the speakers evening, was known to her family, however there had been no prior discussions undertaken in relation to the meeting.

         The minutes of the meeting held on 7 January 2014 were approved as a true and accurate record subject to the following amendments:

·         The inclusion of apologies from Councillor Sylvester; and

·         Item 5.6, 13/01585/WCPP Battlefield Live, French Drove, Thorney. In the last paragraph prior to the resolution; removal of the words ‘as per officers recommendation’.

         The Committee agreed to extend the speaking times to allow:

·           Ward Councillor and Parish Councillor – 20 minutes in total;

·           Mr Stewart Jackson MP – 10 minutes;

·           Objectors – 30 minutes in total;

·           Supporters – 15 minutes in total; and

·           Applicant – 15 minutes.

         Councillor Harrington wished for it to be noted in the minutes that not all members of the Planning Committee had attended the site visit in relation to the application under consideration.

The application site was located to the northern most extent of the Peterborough City Council authority boundary area, on the northern side of French Drove. The site was situated on land comprising several flat arable fields which were interspersed with drainage ditches and farm tracks.  Within the application site there was currently a 16 metre high meteorological mast with supporting guy-wires and associated instruments.  This had been in situ since 2010 and was granted permission to be in place to 2 March 2014.  

To the south of the application site were residential properties and farms which fronted on to French Drove.  The rear gardens and yards to these properties faced onto the application site with interspersed vegetation comprising mature trees, shrubbery and hedgerows. Other residential properties in close proximity to the application site were located at Dowsdale, to the north-east, Empsons Farm to the north-west and Granger Farm to the south-east.

Beyond the application site, larger drains were located to the south (New South Eau drain) and east (Dowsdale Arm/Portland Drain).  The surrounding area was characterised by the Fen landscape; large expanses of flat arable land divided by field margins of hedgerow and drains, with some small pockets of tree belts. 

The application sought planning permission for the construction of four additional wind turbines along with associated ancillary development of a temporary construction compound; access tracks; underground cabling and crane hardstandings. The proposed wind turbines would stand at a maximum height of 100 metres to vertical blade tip, and be of three bladed, horizontal access design with solid tubular tower.  The turbines would have a hub height of no more than 60 metres from ground level and blades extending up to 40 metres in length.

The proposed crane hardstandings, access tracks and construction compound would be constructed of crushed stone/aggregate.  The access tracks would be approximately 5 metres in width whilst the temporary construction compound would extend to an area of 60 metres x 40 metres.

Included within the proposal was an allowance for micro siting of the wind turbines and associated crane pads by 40 metres and the access tracks, hardstanding and temporary construction compound by 5 metres. 

Two wind turbines (up to 100 metres in height to vertical blade tip) along with an electricity substation, construction compound, vehicular access, access tracks and crane hardstandings were granted planning permission at appeal on 7 September 2010 following refusal of planning application reference 08/01365/FUL and this planning permission had been lawfully commenced following discharge of all relevant pre-commencement conditions and construction of the vehicular access and some internal tracks. The wind turbines themselves had not yet been constructed.

The Group Manager Development Management provided an overview of the application and the main issues for consideration, as detailed within the committee report.

Since the report had been published, a number of further representations had been received against the proposals. These were detailed within the update report to the Committee along with:

·         A number of minor amendments to the planning report;

·         Further assessment  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.