Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance (copy enclosed, Members’ Update to be circulated)*.

Following the Officer’s presentation, Mr Chris Wickins, the Applicant and Project Manager for Blackwater Power Ltd, addressed the Committee.

A discussion ensued where Members raised concerns over the potential impact on air quality within the district, the use of fossil fuels and the height of the acoustic barrier.  The Committee commented on the chimneys height with the majority of Members approving of the reduction in height from the original plan.

Councillor Rev. A E J Shrimpton proposed that the application be refused, contrary to the Officer’s recommendation.  This was duly seconded by Councillor S J Savage.

The Committee discussed how the site would mitigate any shortfall in energy for the surrounding area, noting that it would only be operational when required.  Consideration was given to the impact on residents and the industrial area.  One Member queried whether the application was in keeping with European Union (EU) directives.

Councillor I E Dobson that a recorded vote was taken.

The Group Manager Planning Services advised that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) encourages the use of renewable energy but does not object to the use of fossil fuels, and directed Members attention to the comments on the air quality within the report.  It was confirmed that compliance with EU directives would be the applicant’s responsibility.

Members thanked Blackwater Power Ltd for the prospect of preventing power outages.

The Vice-Chairman put the proposal of refusal, contrary to the Officer’s recommendation, to the Committee.

In favour:  Councillors S J Savage and Rev. A E J Shrimpton.

Against: Councillors M S Heard, N G F Shaughnessy, Miss A M Beal, I E Dobson and Miss M R Lewis.

The Vice-Chairman put the Officers recommendation of approval to the committee. 

In favour: Councillors N G F Shaughnessy, M S Heard, Miss A M Beal, I E Dobson and Miss M R Lewis.

Against: Councillors S J Savage and Rev. A E J Shrimpton.

RESOLVED that the application be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:

1.                 The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission. 

2.                 The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans and documents:  PL_MA_001rev.01, PL­­_MA_002.rev.5, PL_MA_BP_005rev.04, PL_MA_SE_006rev.04, PL_MA_PBP_007rev.03 received on 27/11/18, PL_MA_NSE_008rev.00, Flood Risk Assessment & Drainage Strategy 619874-MLM-ZZ-XX-RP-C-0001 by MLM Group dated 27/09/2018, Air Quality Assessment 776933-MLM-ZZ-XX-RP-J-0001 by MLM Group dated 26/11/2018, Acoustic Technical Report ref.102509-MLM-ZZ-XX-RP-U-0001 by MLM Group dated 27/09/2018, Tree Survey and Impact Assessment 1111-KC-XX-YTREE-TreeSurvey-and-ImpactAssessment-RevA dated September 2018, 1111-KC-XX-YTREE-TCP01rev0, 1111- KC_XX_YTREE_TPP01rev.A.

3.                 Details of all external plant and machinery to be installed at the site shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to their use.  The plant and machinery shall be installed and operated in accordance with the approved details and retained as such in perpetuity. 

4.                 The development shall not be occupied until a Flood Warning and Evacuation Plan has been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority.  The Flood Warning and Evacuation Plan shall be made available for inspection by all occupiers and customers to the site and shall be displayed in a visible location all times thereafter. 

5.                 Details of all external illumination of the site including the luminance and spread of light and the design and specification of the light fittings shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  All illumination within the site shall be retained in accordance with the approved details.  There shall be no other lighting of the external areas of the site unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority. 

6.                 Prior to the commencement of the use hereby permitted, provision shall be made for the storage of three bicycles within the site in accordance with details which have been submitted to and gained the prior written approval of the Local Planning Authority.  The approved facility shall be secure, convenient, covered, maintained free from obstruction and retained thereafter.  The storage shall be retained as approved in perpetuity. 

7.                 The use hereby permitted shall not commence until details of flood resilience / resistance measures to be incorporated into the development have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The development shall be completed in accordance with the approved details and retained as such thereafter. 

8.                 Any gates / barriers provided at the vehicular access shall be inward opening only and shall be set back a minimum of 6 metres from the back edge of the highway boundary. 

9.                 Prior to commencement of the development, the areas within the curtilage of the site for loading / unloading / reception and storage of building materials and manoeuvring of all vehicles, including construction traffic shall be provided clear of the highway. 

10.             All measures set out within the noise assessment, including all acoustic fencing, shall be in place prior to the first beneficial use of the building hereby approved and shall be retained as such in perpetuity.