Agenda item

Report number PLA1011 by the Development Management Service Manager.     (Enclosure)

Decision:-

That Newark and Sherwood District Council be advised that due to the size and proximity of the turbines to South Kesteven and the possible severe impact on a large area of South Kesteven, a detailed considered response tested against the SKDC Wind Energy SPD will be provided, and request Newark and Sherwood District Council that sufficient time be allowed (6 weeks) for this response to be provided.

Members had before them report PLA1011 from the Development Management Service Manager on a neighbouring authority consultation received from Newark and Sherwood District Council.  An application had been submitted to that authority for four wind turbines on land south of Newark, west of the A1 and approximately 2km at the nearest point from the boundary with South Kesteven.  The nearest settlements in the District would be Claypole, Long Bennington and Dry Doddington, at distances between 5 and 6km away.  The Development Management Service Manager circulated a plan showing the location of the proposed turbines to Members at the meeting.

Observations on the likely impact of the proposal were set out, from which it was noted that the most significant of these were impact on landscape character and heritage assets. The turbines would also be extensively visible due to the flatish gently undulating landscape, which would have a significant impact.  Cumulative impact was also considered to be significant, given the number of schemes close to this site and within Newark and Sherwood and South Kesteven with consent, proposed, under consideration or at appeal.  In addition, impact on heritage assets was significant.   A lengthy recommendation requesting that Newark and Sherwood District Council take all these issues into account was set out on pages 3 and 4 of the report.

During the following discussion, Members were concerned at the lack of weight given to the District Council’s own SPD.  It was considered that the SPD policies should be set out with an interpretation of the effect on residents of the District.  Taking all comments made into account, the Chairman read a suggested proposition as follows:

“Newark and Sherwood District Council be advised that due to the size and proximity of the turbines to South Kesteven and the possible severe impact on a large area of South Kesteven, a detailed considered response tested against the SKDC Wind Energy SPD will be provided, and request Newark and Sherwood District Council that sufficient time be allowed (6 weeks) for this response to be provided”.

A Member asked how much time was available for the submission of comments.  On checking, the Development Management Service Manager said that comments should have been in by 2^nd August, but that it was unlikely that the application would be considered by Newark and Sherwood before the second or third week in October.

The Chairman asked if Newark and Sherwood would be wrong to ignore South Kesteven, if they chose to determine the application before this Council’s comments had been submitted and if that did happen could SKDC object to a decision being made.  The Development Management Service Manager  said that any authority had to take into account all material considerations, including comments from consultees.  The Solicitor commented that in his opinion it would not be appropriate for this Council to object, but Newark and Sherwood would have taken an unsound decision if they chose to determine without taking all relevant matters into consideration.

The proposition by the Chairman was seconded, and on being put to the vote was agreed.