Agenda item

Report PLA971 from the Portfolio Holder for Grow the Economy and Economic Development.

(Enclosure)

Decision:

Cabinet approves the following:

a)              That the comments received in response to the public consultation on the draft Wind Energy Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) as set out in Appendix 2 to report PLA971 and the further consultation on the definition of small wind turbine as set out in Appendix 3 to report PLA971 are noted.

b)              That the proposed changes to the draft Wind Energy SPD as set out in Appendix 4 to report PLA971 are approved.

c)              That the Wind Energy SPD, as amended in accordance with recommendation b) above is adopted.

d)              That the SPD takes effect following the end of the call in period and that it is applied to all qualifying pre-application enquires, requests for scoping opinions and planning applications registered as valid after this date.

e)              That the following paragraphs and figures of the Landscape Character Assessment (2007) are rescinded: 1.20 (part only – reference to wind energy proposals), 4.33, 4.55, 4.76, 4.100, 4.132, 4.153, 4.172, 4.175 and Figure 28.

Considerations/reasons for decision:

1)       Report PLA971 from the Portfolio Holder for Grow the Economy and Economic Development.

2)       The draft Wind Energy SPD was approved for the purposes of public consultation by the Cabinet on the 1st October 2012 (Report PLA 945) and consultation took place between October and November 2012 with a wide range of bodies as well as parish and town councils.  A further four week consultation took place in April 2013 concerning the definition of small wind turbines.

3)         The SPD provides guidance to planning officers, elected members, developers, local communities and the public on:

• Key planning issues associated with wind energy developments during their construction, operation and decommissioning.

• Criteria to be applied when determining applications for wind energy

developments.

• Good siting and design of wind energy schemes including how potential impacts can be minimised.

• Information to be provided when submitting a planning application

4)       The adoption of the Wind Energy SPD will be a material consideration in the determination of relevant planning proposals and, having been through a process of public consultation, can be given significant degree of weight.

5)       Comments from the Portfolio Holder for Grow the Economy and Economic Development thanking the Service Manager Planning Policy and Partnerships and her team for the careful consideration of all responses received and the changes made to clarify the wording within the document.

6)       Comments from the Portfolio Holder for Good Housing about the quantity of the responses received and the content therein.

7)       Comments from the Portfolio Holder for Governance and Communication about not having specific wording within the document, therefore, judgements could be based on each individual application received and the information contained therein.

Other options considered:

Do not adopt the SPD – the alternative would be to rely on prospective developers hopefully engaging in pre application discussions prior to submitting a planning application.  The preparation of the SPD is more positive in that it provides guidance to developers, SKDC offices and the general public on the key issues and impacts to consider in assessing or submitting a planning application for wind energy.