The following development is located within the boundaries of Gwynedd Council Local Planning Authority: 1) Construction of Western tunnel head house (including the associated construction compound) at Garth and the permanent access track The following development is located within the boundaries of Snowdonia National Park Local Planning Authority: 2) Construction of Eastern tunnel head house (including the associated construction compound), sealing end compound and permanent access at Cilfor 3) A new sealing end compound on the eastern side of the Dwyryd Estuary to connect the underground cables to the overhead line The following development does not require formal planning permission : These proposals would allow for the construction of an underground tunnel housing electricity cables and the removal of 10 existing pylons and associated overhead lines from across the Dwyryd Estuary The application crosses the boundary between Gwynedd Council and the Snowdonia National Park and therefore you may receive a consultation from each authority in relation to the development located within its boundaries.
LOCAL MEMBER:
Councillor Gareth Thomas
Decision:
DECISION To approve subject to conditions:
1. 5 years
2. In accordance with the plans and assessments submitted as
part of the application.
3. The colour of the fence
3. Highways
4. Trunk Roads
5. NRW Conditions
6. Welsh Water
7. Working hours - and other Public Protection conditions
8. Biodiversity
9. Archaeological
10. CEMP
11. Landscaping and monitoring management plan
Notes
Highways
Welsh Water
All operations that include the disposal, treatment or recovery of tunnel outputs should be achieved in accordance with the waste hierarchy and the objectives of the outline waste management plan. Contact the Gwynedd Planning Service and Natural Resources Wales in relation to the requirements of the Environmental Licensing Regulations or planning status of any waste management facility or other site noted for the receipt, treatment or disposal of any waste arisings.
Minutes:
The following development is located within the boundaries of Gwynedd
Council Local Planning Authority: 1) Construction of Western tunnel head house
(including the associated construction compound) at Garth and the permanent access
track. The following development is located within the boundaries of Snowdonia
National Park Local Planning Authority: 2) Construction of Eastern tunnel head
house (including the associated construction compound), sealing end compound
and permanent access at Cilfor: 3) A new sealing end compound on the eastern
side of the Dwyryd Estuary to connect the underground cables to the overhead
line. The following development does not require formal planning
permission: These proposals would allow
for the construction of an underground tunnel housing electricity cables and
the removal of 10 existing pylons and associated overhead lines from across the
Dwyryd Estuary.
Attention was drawn to the late observations form that had been
received
a) The
Planning Manager elaborated on the background of the application, noting that this was an application concerning a project that had for some
years now, included a substantial input from Council officers and stakeholders
to the project referred to as a Visual Impact Provision (VIP) project. It was reported that the plan
was led by the National Grid who had consulted extensively with the local
community.
The
purpose of the plan was to mitigate the visual impact the existing electricity
infrastructure has on protected landscapes around the Dwyryd estuary by
removing electricity pylons between Minffordd and Cilfor and under-grounding
the electricity cables for a distance of 3.5km.
It was added that a planning application had
been submitted to the Gwynedd Council Planning Authority and the Snowdonia
National Park Authority in order to enable both authorities to determine the
application relevant to their areas.
Attention was drawn to paragraphs 1.17 - 1.23
in the report that gave a brief description of the developments subject to the
application within both Authorities and to paragraphs 1.24 to 1.30 that, due to
the extensive and complex nature of the plan, referred to requirements outside
the planning field. It was noted that the Planning Committee of the Snowdonia National
Park Authority had already approved the application.
It was explained that the proposal involved erecting
the Western tunnel end building (including the associated building compound),
along with a permanent access track. Although the building was relatively
substantial, it was comparable to an agricultural building in terms of its
size, height and design. It was added that a Visual
and Landscape Assessment had been submitted as part of the application and
included landscape details and the visual impact including a photographic
montage.
Based on the information and plans
submitted as part of the application, it was considered that the long-term
impacts of the proposal were acceptable in terms of design, scale, materials,
landscaping and the impact on the landscape and that it complied with the
requirements of policies PCYFF 2, 3 and 4, AMG 2 and 3 of the LDP and TAN 12:
Design. It was accepted that the
plan as a whole would cause disruption, noise, vibration, dust and traffic
during the temporary work of tunnelling and building the tunnel head house.
Those elements that were not planning matters would be the subject of a
discussion and supervision carried out by the Public Protection Unit (who deal
with general nuisance) and Natural Resources Wales who issue permits for waste
disposal.
It was recognised that it
would be inevitable that such a development would have some impact on the
general and residential amenities of nearby residents; however, in the
long-term, it was not considered that the proposal would have a detrimental
impact on the general or residential amenities of any nearby residents.
Considering the short-term impacts of implementing the permission, it was highlighted that it was possible to manage and/or
mitigate the impacts to acceptable levels by means of appropriate planning
conditions. It was noted that the Public Protection Unit had noted acceptable
working hours for the proposal in relation to the construction of the tunnel
head building and in addition to conditions regarding noise issues, dust,
traffic and working hours, nuisance etc., that derive directly from the
development. The applicant can also
update the situation by submitting an update to the Construction Environment
Management Plan that will be the subject of a planning condition. Once the
tunnelling and construction work is complete, the presence of any staff on the
site would be occasional.
It was confirmed that the
Transportation Unit and the Welsh Government Trunk Roads Unit had no objection
to the application and had already ensured that matters such as moving
equipment and waste were included in the Construction Environment Management
Plan. It was noted
that Natural Resources Wales had confirmed that the proposal was acceptable in
terms of flooding risk and impact, and the Land Drainage Unit was satisfied
with the work on the watercourse.
It was noted that extensive information had been
submitted as part of the application relating to Biodiversity matters, and this
was as a result of prior extensive discussions between
the Biodiversity Unit and the National Grid. Mitigation and improvement
measures had been proposed and these would be imposed
as conditions to ensure that they are completed.
Although the development does not reach the thresholds
of Strategic Policy PS1 which promotes and supports
the use of the Welsh language in the Plan area, a Welsh Language Statement has
been submitted and assessed by the Language Service and they were satisfied
with the language statement due to the nature of the application and the work
in question. It was evident from the
statement that the National Grid had considered the importance of the Welsh
language in the area and was very aware of the need for bilingual communication
and they would use local workers where possible.
In order to provide assurances for aspects of the
proposal, and as the plan as a whole was more than what is covered in this
application alone, and as there was a need to ensure that no unacceptable environmental
impacts occur as a result of this work, any planning permission would be the
subject of a planning condition to present and receive approval to a
Construction Environment Management Plan for the control of various aspects of
the work. These matters would be agreed
in consultation with the relevant bodies following the approval of any planning
permission.
The above, and all the
relevant planning matters had been considered including local and national
policies and guidance.
b)
Taking advantage of the right to speak, the Chair of
the Independent Stakeholders Consultation Group noted, on behalf of the
applicant, the following main points:-
• That he was very
supportive to the plan and had been part of this for six years.
•
The plan was one of four of its type that had been chosen as an alternative plan to improve special
landscapes in England and Wales.
•
Aberdwyryd was a spectacular area but was spoilt by pylons and electricity cables.
•
Removing the pylons would transform the area and local
residents would have an opportunity to enjoy the estuary and the clear views.
•
The Consultation Group includes a number of
stakeholders who are supportive to the plan and have been part of the plan's
details since 2015.
•
That the plans for the two compounds were different in
response to the public consultation.
•
The National Park Planning Authority had granted the
application without any objections.
•
The plan would be a boost to local business and would
bring environmental, leisure and economic benefits to this beautiful area.
•
The proposal would restore the area's natural beauty.
•
That it was an honour to be part of a scheme that will
transform the area to such an extent.
c)
Taking advantage of the right to speak, the Local
Member made the following points:-
• That he
supported the proposal.
• That the
pylons were like scars on beautiful and important land.
• Discussions
with the National Grid were to be praised - they had
been very open.
• That
the road to the head of the tunnel was the original road to the quarry before
the by-pass was built and therefore had a history of heavy traffic.
• Supported the
proposal to remove pylons from a beautiful estuary.
ch) It was proposed
and seconded to approve the application.
d)
During the ensuing
discussion, the following points were made by members:
• Removing the pylons would be
an improvement for the area and for tourism
• Views would improve once the
pylons had been taken down
•The plan was certainly one to welcome - it
was an improvement in a sensitive area
• Welcomed the intention to
employ local people
• Welcomed the principle, but it was difficult
to support a plan that would contribute to energy poverty
RESOLVED to approve the application with the following
conditions:
1.
5
years
2.
In
accordance with the plans and assessments submitted as part of the application.
3.
The
colour of the fence
4.
Highways
5.
Trunk
Roads
6.
NRW
Conditions
7.
Welsh
Water
8.
Working
hours - and other Public Protection conditions
9.
Biodiversity
10. Archaeological
11. CEMP
12. Landscaping and monitoring
management plan
Notes
Highways
Welsh Water
All
operations that include the disposal, treatment or recovery of tunnel outputs should be achieved in accordance with the waste hierarchy
and the objectives of the outline waste management plan.
Contact the
Gwynedd Planning Service and Natural Resources Wales in relation to the
requirements of the Environmental Licensing Regulations or planning status of
any waste management facility or other site noted for the receipt, treatment or
disposal of any waste arisings.
Supporting documents: