Issue - meetings

Proposed development of a battery energy storage system, associated infrastructure, access and landscaping

LOCAL MEMBERS: Councillor Sasha Williams and Councillor Gwion Emyr

Link to relevant background documents

DECISION: To Refuse

Reason:

1.       This development would be detrimental to the landscape as it would introduce an industrial element to an open grassland site in a prominent location that would be visible within notable views of Eryri National Park. The application is therefore contrary to policies ISA 1, ADN 3, PCYFF 1, PCYFF 2 and PCYFF 4 of the Anglesey and Gwynedd Joint Local Development Plan as they relate to ensuring that developments are appropriate to their location.

Proposed development of battery energy storage system, associated infrastructure, access and landscaping

Attention was drawn to the late observations form

Some Members had visited the site on 12-01-26

a)     The Planning Manager highlighted that these types of plans stored surplus energy from renewable energy developments and the grid when electricity demand was low, releasing the electricity later when there was demand and therefore helping to provide energy supply safety.

It was explained that the site included 1.95ha of rough grazing land located adjacent to the existing Pentir electricity sub-station in open countryside outside any development boundary, and within the Dinorwig Landscape of Outstanding Historical Interest; the land had been classified as grade 3a and 5 in the Agricultural Land Classification: predictive map for Wales.

It was expressed that the applicant explained that the proposal was for temporary planning permission, for a period of 40 years, following which the equipment would be removed from the site and the land restored to its current state. It was confirmed that the applicant had undertaken a pre-application consultation as the proposal was a development over 1ha and therefore the Welsh Government had defined it as a major development.

The development was screened for an Environmental Impact Assessment and the likely impact of the proposal on the environment, and having used the specific criteria, it was not considered that the impact of the development on the environment was insufficient to justify submitting an environmental statement with the application.

Assessing the visual impact of the proposal, and despite acknowledging that a logical process had been followed in the selection of the site, it was noted that the site was separated from the sub-station by a significant highway and there was no significant existing screening for the location. Concern was expressed that the development could be harmful to the natural beauty of the area, especially when viewed from the north-west, where the site would take away from the views of the Eryri National Park. A Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment was submitted with the application, including a visual impact assessment from several directions. The conclusions of that work were that, despite noting that there would be some significant local impacts, the development would have a limited harmful impact on the landscape as a whole. In addition to the current screening offered by land formation and growth, the development would include landscaping features, such as a row of trees, which would assist with the integration of the development into the surrounding landscape. In addition, reference was made to the existing developed features, including the pylons that were immediately nearby, which would reduce its impact on the landscape. It was also noted that the development would only impact the nearby area, and it would be reversible.

It was noted that the site was within Landscape Character Area 4 - Caernarfon - Coastline and Plateau within the Gwynedd Landscape Strategy (2012) and that Strategy noted that every development proposal in the area should respect the nature of the pattern  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8