Issue - meetings

Removal of the existing helicopter landing pad and construction of two new landing pads to support the existing Hospital. Works will involve re grading the soft landscape to accommodate a new access road, landing pads inclusive of all surface water drainage, illuminated landing markings and barriers, new secure fencing and enclosures to support the aircraft.

Link to relevant background documents

DECISION:

To approve the application subject to conditions relating to the following:

1.    Time (five years)

2.    In accordance with the plans

3.    The recommendations of the Arboriculture Assessment and Method Statement and Ecological Appraisal must be followed.

4.    Welsh Water Condition to protect the sewerage system.

Notes

1.    Welsh Water

2.    Natural Resources Wales

3.    Land Drainage Unit

Removal of the existing helicopter landing pad and construction of two new landing stages to support the existing hospital. The work will include re-grading the soft landscape to include a new access road, landing pads including all surface water drainage, markings and illuminated landing barriers, new safety fences and enclosures to maintain the helicopters.

a)    The Development Control Team Leader highlighted that this was a full application for the creation of a new landing facility for helicopters near Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor. The work would include:

·         removing the existing helicopter landing pad

·         creating two new landing areas by:

o   re-grading the landscape and creating two embankments with a circular shaped flat plot behind them

o   installation of hard standings for landing pads

o   surface water drainage work

o   installation of new illuminated landing barriers

o   erection of security fencing

o   creation of enclosures in order to maintain the helicopters

o   associated engineering work.

It was explained that the landing pad was located approximately 150m to the east of the hospital, on a plot of sloped land on an elevated site above the city, which, according to the Civil Aviation Authority, offers very good flight paths into and out of the hospital grounds. The hospital stands on the southern peripheries of Bangor Subregional Centre in the area of Penrhosgarnedd. The site is also partly located within the buffer zone of Crug Goetre Uchaf  Registered Monument.

In the context of the principle of the development, it was considered that this was a scheme to enhance an essential service offered to the communities of Gwynedd and that it met the relevant criteria as listed under Criterion 1, Policy ISA 2 of the LDP and, therefore, the principle of the application was acceptable.

In the context of general amenities, it was noted that this development would be in a concealed location from the majority of nearby viewpoints. Public footpath number 39 in the Community of Bangor ran past the northern boundary of the site, however, there was a mature hedge between this path and the site. The majority of the views from the site were from a distance and in the context of the existing developed site and the hospital nearby. When considering the local landscape and existing trees and hedges surrounding the site, it was not believed that there would be a significant change to the view of the site as observed from the outside.

It was noted that there was potential for noise and disturbance to emanate from this type of facility but this was unlikely to be significantly worse than what already happened. There would not be a significant increase in the use made of the site, instead, it would be possible to deal more efficiently with the transport that needed to use the landing pads, particularly in an emergency when more than one helicopter would need to land in a short space of time.

It was highlighted that the site was approximately 200m from the nearest residential houses and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8