Agenda item

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.

 

LOCAL MEMBERS: Councillor Menna Baines and Councillor Gareth Roberts

 

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 it was not believed that there would be a significant additional harm caused to the amenities of local residents deriving from the development and, therefore, the proposal was acceptable in terms of the requirements of policies PCYFF 2 and PCYFF 3 of the LDP.

 

In the context of biodiversity matters, it was noted that an ecological assessment of the site had been submitted, which concluded that there was no special biodiversity interest to the site itself, although the boundaries were of significance to wildlife and were visually important. The report recommended safeguarding biodiversity features by drawing up a Conservation Building Control Plan and Biodiversity Management Plan for the site.

 

It was not considered that the proposal was contrary to any relevant planning policy within the LDP, that the proposed development was appropriate for the site and that it would help achieve an objective of strategic importance.

 

b)    Taking advantage of the right to speak, the Local Members made the following points:

Cllr Gareth A Roberts

·         The proposal was of essential importance to the Service

·         The existing provision was insufficient

·         Supported the application

 

Cllr Menna Baines (not present at the meeting, but she had sent an e-mail message)

·         'No objection to the proposal - deemed it a necessary development'

 

c)    It was proposed and seconded to approve the application

RESOLVED

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