Agenda item

Temporary planning permission for a period of 40 years for the erection of an Energy Storage System (ESS), together with associated infrastructure, site access, landscaping and ancillary works on land at Tyddyn Forgan, Llanddeiniolen, Caernarfon, LL55 3AN.

 

LOCAL MEMBERS: Councillor Elwyn Jones and Councillor Menna Baines

                                                                           

Link to relevant background documents

 

DECISION:

 

1.               Five years

2.               In accordance with the plans/details submitted with the application

3.              Compliance with the landscaping scheme along with future maintenance work

4.              Compliance with the recommendations of the following documents: Ecological Impact Assessment, Arboriculture Impact Assessment, Ecological Technical Note and Green Infrastructure Statement

5.               Compliance with the Flood Consequences Assessment 

6.               Limit construction times

7.               Set a maximum for noise emissions

8.               Agree noise monitoring measures

9.              A condition to ensure appropriate action is taken if unexpected pollution is found

10.           Agree on the external finishes of the structures

11.           Ensure a Welsh name and bilingual signage with priority given to the Welsh language

12.           Agree on an Archaeological work programme

13.           Submit a revised Construction Environmental Management Plan (to include management of the link with SP Manweb equipment)

14.           Submit a revised Landscape and Ecology Management Plan to consider the observations of the Biodiversity Unit

15.           The site must be restored to the condition agreed with the Planning Authority once the development's operational period has ended

 

Notes:         

Water and Environment Unit

Natural Resources Wales

Gwynedd Archaeological Planning Service

Dŵr Cymru

SP Manweb

Temporary planning permission for a period of 40 years to erect an Energy Storage System (ESS), together with associated infrastructure, site access, landscaping and ancillary works on land at Tyddyn Forgan, Llanddeiniolen, Caernarfon, LL55 3AN.

 

Attention was drawn to the late observations form

 

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

 

a)    The Senior Planning Officer highlighted that the type of system temporarily stored energy from renewable energy developments when there was a low demand for electricity, and it then released the electricity as the demand increased.

 

With the Local Members unable to attend, the Officer presented responses received from them via e-mail:

 

Councillor Menna Baines:

 

“A small part of the development is in my ward as the Pentir electricity sub-station is within its boundaries. The Council has committed to the aim of being carbon net zero by 2030 and it seems to me that this scheme is compatible with that aim and principle, and that being as it would form part of the support network that could be used according to the demand when managing the supply of renewable energy. I note concerns raised about an 'overdevelopment' of these types of schemes in the area, but it seems that locating this specific development near the sub-station is a way of taking advantage of the infrastructure that is already there instead of creating demand for more cables or further heavy work. From that perspective, the location makes sense. In terms of the visual impact, it seems that there would not be too much of an impact, especially bearing in mind that the sub-station's equipment is already there and also given that this development would only be seen partly as the proposed planting work matures over time, screening the site better. I also note other concerns raised, especially those about losing biodiversity and endangering a part of the archaeological heritage, but I accept that there are robust conditions associated with the recommendation of approving the development. Given that the development keeps to these conditions and the others that are listed, I have no objection to the application".

 

Councillor Elwyn Jones:

 

"I would like to state my objection to the application, as well as the objection of the Pentir Community Council who I sent as a Clerk of that Council to the Planning Department last April.

 

This Company met us virtually at the Llanddeiniolen Community Council Meeting as they tried to persuade us that this system was advantageous for the National Grid to fulfil the grid's defects. When asking them about safety, noise, employment, and why the National Grid themselves would not invest in similar equipment, there was no reply at all, only waffling. They had no response regarding the way that they had consulted as they bragged about distributing some hundreds of information pamphlets although nobody in the nearest communities had received any information. It is easy to state after the event that there was no objection from local residents.

 

'I am glad that it is a recommendation to refuse that Gwynedd officers have stated for C25/0277/18/LL Land South of B4547 Seion / Pentir LL55 3AN and it would have been pleasing to read the same recommendation for this application.

 

I would like to note my objection as follows

1.     It is an overdevelopment in the countryside and this site is an area of local historic interest

2.     The landscaping will not be effectively achieved for at least 15 years and would therefore be visible for 15 years

3.     Whilst being suspicious of the real advantages of the energy storage system, it is not in any way a boost to the local economy and offers NO employment

4.     It is a fact that a lithium battery fire cannot be extinguished - it can only be left to burn out

5.     No local consultation has been undertaken - putting a piece of paper on a pole next to a busy road where very few people walk by it or a house within 200m is not consulting, neither is it an opportunity for local residents to give their opinion

 

For information, I received a Welsh and English letter of support to the enterprise via e-mail today from Net Zero. As it was sent from London, I called to ask them about the site - they knew nothing about it! Perhaps this company has been consulting in London.

 

Object and/or come over for a site visit"

 

 

It was explained that the application site included 4.6ha of rough grazing land classified as grade 3 and 5 land in a location in open countryside outside any current development boundary and on land adjacent to the existing Pentir electricity sub-station access road which is approximately 150m to the north of the nearest part of the site. The site is within the Dinorwig Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest and is partly within Flood Zone B as noted in the Flood Risk Map. It was expressed that the nearby woodland to the south-east, "Coed Tŷ'n Llwyn" and "Coed Tyddyn Morgan" to the north, were recognised as "Regional Wildlife Sites".

 

It was reported, as part of the application, that many documents and reports were submitted, which included specialist knowledge, including a pre-application consultation report in accordance with the requirements of the Town and Country Planning Act as the proposal was a development defined as a major development and measured more than 1 ha.

 

Attention was drawn to the Biodiversity Service's response to the application, which stated that they objected the proposal as there were insufficient mitigation measures for habitat loss and the development did not provide biodiversity enhancements. However, they acknowledged that the application incorporated many measures to reduce the impact of the development on biodiversity and reference was made to the number of ecological assessments undertaken on the site and that corresponding measures to the land and the loss of land were being proposed. It was noted that regular communication had been undertaken between the developer's ecologist and the biodiversity unit and despite the continued concerns from the Biodiversity Unit, the following matters were emphasised:

·        Approval would enable management of the site through planning conditions for ecological purposes as there was no such protection for the existing site

·        The detailed steps included in the Landscape and Ecological Management Plan could be agreed in accordance with the demand and the Construction Environmental Management Plan and the Landscape and Ecological Plan set out the measures that would protect, conserve and, ultimately, restore and enhance the habitats maintained within the boundary of the red line and the mitigation area

·        Due to the restrictions and availability of other lands, there was insufficient space because the overhead high-voltage power lines required an 80m easement in the area which reduced the area of land available for the battery storage units. In addition, there was no permission from the landowner for the applicant to develop an alternative site.

·        An additional 0.09ha of natural habitat would be specifically managed for biodiversity enhancements in the nearby area.

 

Reference was made to Natural Resources Wales's concerns regarding the proposal, but it was expressed that they were willing to accept the development subject to conditions that would ensure the implementation of the development in accordance with the measures and improvements recommended. It was elaborated that the site had not currently been formally protected in any way from a biodiversity perspective, and, because of this, there was no formal management to prevent the complete loss of the site's biodiversity value through changes in agricultural management that would not require planning permission, for example.

 

It was considered that the development would offer a significant increase in the size of the land that would be specifically managed to maintain and enhance biodiversity and, by agreeing an appropriate management plan, it could be ensured that no significant harm to biodiversity would derive from the development and steps could be ensured that would increase the biodiversity value of the site in the long term.

 

It was considered that the proposal was acceptable and satisfied the requirements of the relevant policies. The officers recommended that the application be approved subject to conditions.

b)     Taking advantage of the right to speak, the applicant’s agent noted the following points:

·       That the proposal supported the Council's commitment to be carbon net zero by 2030, and the Welsh Government's target

·       That energy storage sites were essential to support renewable energy - the system would store surplus energy from renewable energy developments when there was a low demand for electricity and would then release the electricity as the demand increased

·        There was sufficient storage for 323,000 homes - more than all the homes in north Wales

·        The existing infrastructure was perfect to respond to the local and national targets

·        The proposal was safe and of quality, and a safety plan had been submitted with the application

·        There were no objections from the Fire and Rescue Service

·        A grid connection had been agreed with the Pentir Sub-station - this reduced the effects of installing underground cables and therefore the visual impact was low on the landscape due to its proximity to the sub-station

·        Pre-application discussions and local consultations had been undertaken in accordance with good practice requirements

·        The proposal supported local distribution from SP Energy Network energy and no distribution across the UK - this was beneficial to local businesses and homes

·        A £100,000 Community Benefit Fund had been established with discussions with the community on how to distribute it

·        It was a clean, green plan, a good energy plan, was safe and would address targets

·        The benefits outweighed the harm

c)     It was proposed and seconded to approve the application

ch)       In response to a question about why 40 years was being considered a 'temporary period', it was noted that this was the intention of this application and the relevant period for this type of application.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.         Five years.

2.         In accordance with the plans/details submitted with the application

3.         Compliance with the landscaping scheme along with future maintenance work

4.         Compliance with the recommendations of the following documents: Ecological Impact Assessment, Arboriculture Impact Assessment, Ecological Technical Note and Green Infrastructure Statement

5.         Compliance with the Flood Consequences Assessment 

6.         Limit construction times

7.         Set a maximum for noise emissions

8.         Agree noise monitoring measures

9.         A condition to ensure appropriate action is taken if unexpected contamination is found

10.       Agree on the external finishes of the structures

11.       Ensure a Welsh name and bilingual signage with priority given to the Welsh language

12.       Agree on an Archaeological work programme

13.       Submit a revised Construction Environmental Management Plan (to include management of the link with SP Manweb equipment)

14.       Submit a revised Landscape and Ecology Management Plan to consider the observations of the Biodiversity Unit

15.       The site must be restored to the condition agreed with the Planning Authority once the development's operational period has ended

 

Notes:

Water and Environment Unit

Natural Resources Wales

Gwynedd Archaeological Planning Service

Welsh Water

SP Manweb