Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Erection of a gas fired Electricity Generating Station comprising gas engine casements and associated buildings and infrastructure together with means of access and landscaping/groundworks

RESOLVED: That application 17/04353/FP be REFUSED planning permission, for the following reason:

Reason for Refusal

The application site is located within an area designated in the North Hertfordshire District Local Plan no. 2 - with Alterations proposals map as Green Belt, within which there is a presumption against inappropriate development unless very special circumstances can be demonstrated. In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority this planning application proposes inappropriate development in the Green Belt, which would harm the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and cause harm to the purposes of the Green Belt as defined in paragraph 80 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) as follows. The proposal would cause harm to the purpose of safeguarding the countryside from encroachment. In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority the applicant has not demonstrated Very Special Circumstances which are sufficient to outweigh the substantial weight should be given to any harm to the Green Belt that is required under paragraph 88 of the NPPF. Furthermore, due to the scale, appearance of the development and its prominent location, demonstrable harm would be caused to the openness of the Green Belt. The proposal therefore conflicts with saved Policy 2 'Green Belt' of the North Hertfordshire District Local Plan No. 2 - with Alterations, Section 9 'Protecting Green Belt Land' of the NPPF and Policy SP5 ‘Countryside and Green Belt’ of the submitted Local Plan 2011 - 2031.

Proactive Statement

Planning permission has been refused for this proposal for the clear reasons set out in this decision notice. The Council acted proactively through positive engagement with the applicant in an attempt to narrow down the reasons for refusal but fundamental objections could not be overcome. The Council has therefore acted proactively in line with the requirements of the Framework (paragraphs 186 and 187) and in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015.

Erection of a gas fired Electricity Generating Station comprising gas engine casements and associated buildings and infrastructure together with means of access and landscaping/ground works.

The Senior Planning Officer advised that this was the second attempt to gain permission for a gas peaking plant at this site

Additional information had been submitted by the Applicant regarding air quality and ground water contamination.

The Council’s Environmental Health Officer was satisfied with the information regarding air quality and raised no objections to the proposal subject to three conditions.

The Environment Agency had withdrawn their objection regarding water contamination and recommended four conditions.

It was therefore recommended that reason 2 for refusal be omitted.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report of the Development and Conservation Manager in respect of planning application 17/04353/FP supported by a visual presentation consisting of plans, drawings and photographs of the site.

Mr Adrian Hawkins, Wymondley Parish Neighbourhood Plan, thanked the Chainman for the opportunity to address the Committee in objection to application 17/04353/FP.

Mr Hawkins advised that he was representing Wymondley Parish Council and  the residents of Wymondley Parish and drew attention to the following:

·                The objections of the Parish Council had been submitted;

·                The site was in the Green Belt, in a picturesque area and next to a recently rejuvenated hotel;

·                This development would affect the openness of the Green Belt;

·                At a public meeting the applicant admitted they had not built a facility of this size and scale before;

·                Therefore sound, pollution and vibration levels all remained untested;

·                Flooding in the area was difficult;

·                The site was next to the A1(M) and Wymondley was dissected by the A602:

·                Air quality was a growing concern and NHDC was already monitoring this at the Three Moorhens roundabout and Paynes Park, Hitchin;

·                During the examination in public of the Local Plan, Wymondley Parish Council had an air quality expert in attendance;

·                NHDC documents state that no development should take place if poor air quality existed;

·                Residents of Wymondley had been taking readings regarding air quality in the area;

·                The European Union maximum was 40 micrograms of nitrous oxide and readings at the Three Moorhens regularly exceeded this figure over the past 8 years;

·                The Three Moorhens Air Quality Management Site was just over one mile away from the proposed development;

·                Wymondley had two air quality testing points along the A602. Readings at the air quality testing point at Blakemore End Road regularly exceeded European Union maximum levels of 40 mgs.

Mr Hawkins concluded by stating that it was inexcusable to allow development of this site, given the propensity towards delivering additional air pollution that would adversely affect the health and wellbeing of residents of Wymondley Parish and Hitchin.

He referred to the Energy Policy for the East of England report, considered by Hertfordshire LEP, which stated that since 2012 electricity usage had been stable.

He advised that the same report contained the following statement:

“We are a clean growth region that has superb natural assets and a high  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20