Agenda item

Application to amend condition 1 of planning permission reference C16/0886/15/LL for installation of underground 132KV grid connection cables between the Glyn Rhonwy Storage Facility and Pentir Substation so as to extend the development commencement period for an additional 2 years.

LOCAL MEMBERS: Councillors Kevin Morris Jones, Elfed Williams, Menna Baines, Elwyn Jones, Sion Wyn Jones and Berwyn Parry Jones

Link to relevant background documents

DECISION: To delegate powers to the Senior Planning Manager to approve the application, subject to the following conditions.

1.    5 years

2.    The amendment(s) hereby permitted shall be carried out in strict conformity with the details submitted to the Local Planning Authority on 22/10/2021, and contained in the application form and in any other documents accompanying the application, unless condition(s) to amend them are included in this planning decision notice. Notwithstanding the amendments hereby permitted, the remainder of the development must be completed in strict conformity with the details and conditions included in planning permission number C16/0886/15/LL.

Application to amend condition 1 of planning permission reference C16/0886/15/LL for the installation of underground 132KV grid connection cables between the Glyn Rhonwy pump storage Facility and Pentir Substation so as to extend the development commencement period for an additional 2 years.

Attention was drawn to the late observations form.

a)    The Development Control Team Leader highlighted that the length of the connection measured approximately 9km and was completely underground - running within the Glyn Rhonwy site towards the sub-station at Pentir. . It was explained that the cables themselves would be installed within a protected duct, at a depth of 1.7m within the ditch.

Members were reminded that this was an application to vary condition 1 of planning permission C16/0886/15/LL in order to extend the development commencement period for an additional 2 years, without any change to the original plan. Consequently, the principle of this proposal had already been accepted and established by the Local Planning Authority by means of planning permission C16/0886/15/LL. However, it was highlighted that there was a need to consider whether circumstances or the planning policy situation had changed since the application was originally approved. The importance of assessing and confirming whether or not the situation continued to be the same in terms of compliance with the Planning Policies was reiterated.

In light of local policies, the Local Planning Authority determined the original application based on the policies of the Gwynedd Unitary Development Plan which had by now been replaced by the Joint Local Development Plan, therefore it was necessary to consider any material amendments in the policies since determining the previous application. It was explained that the relevant policies involving the acceptability of the principle of this latest application were Policies ISA 1 'Infrastructure Provision' and PS 7 'Renewable Technology'.

It was noted that part of the proposal leads through the 'North Western Fringes of Snowdonia' Special Landscape Area, and was entirely within the 'Dinorwig' Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest and directly adjacent to the 'Slate Landscape' World Heritage Site. Therefore, it was considered that the proposal to install an underground connection cable complied with guidance in policy PS 7 and continued to comply with relevant policies

b)    Taking advantage of the opportunity to speak, the Local Member for the Cwm y Glo ward, Councillor Berwyn P Jones, noted that he had no objection to the application.

c)    A proposal was made to approve the application and it was seconded.

RESOLVED to delegate powers to the Senior Planning Manager to approve the application, subject to the following conditions

1.       5 years

2.       The amendment(s) hereby permitted shall be carried out in strict conformity with the details shown on plans submitted to the Local Planning Authority on 22/10/2021, and contained in the application form and in any other documents accompanying the application, unless condition(s) to amend them are included in this planning decision notice. Notwithstanding the amendments hereby permitted, the remainder of the development must be completed in strict conformity with the details and conditions included in planning permission number C16/0886/15/LL.