Issue - meetings

            That planning permission be refused on the grounds of the potential effect on residential amenity by way of noise and visual impacts by virtue of the scale and design of the development in proximity to residential properties, particularly in that alternative sites had not been fully explored. 

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning in respect of this application which had been the subject of a site visit on 8 October 2012.  The usual consultations had been undertaken and the responses received detailed in the report. Additional comments received since the preparation of the report were circulated at the meeting. 

            The officer detailed the background to the report and drew Members’ attention to the late observations. 

            Mr. G. Bennett spoke against the application on behalf of Golftyn Residents’ Association.  He stated that the Association was not opposed in principle to the development but was against its siting being so close to residential properties.  He referred to information on the web from National Grid and others which indicated that converter stations should not be close to residential areas due to factors which included noise and dust; he felt that National Grid were going against their own advice, being driven purely by cost.  Mr. Bennett also raised concern about the visual impact and the noise which would be generated by the converter station 24 hours per day, referring to the outline application which had been refused for these reasons.  He also referred to the contaminated nature of the site and to dust of an unknown nature which had appeared on cars in the locality.  In referring to Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention he considered that alternative sites should be explored on the other side of the river to this site. 

            Mr. M. Williams, the Project Manager from National Grid, spoke in support of the application.  He referred to the increased challenges to provide renewable energy and said that there was a history of power generation on this site.  He said that other sites had been explored but they were not technically viable for the western link.  The converter station was of a bespoke design, having the support of the Design Commisssion for Wales, which reflected local materials and on-site landscaping would also be provided to make the area more visually appealing.  He stated that there would be no increase in the prevailing background noise as a result of the converter station, even at night and when the station was at production levels.  He added that there was a need for the development and that a significant amount of work had been undertaken since the application was refused in February 2012 significantly to reduce the footprint and height of the building. He concluded that this was the best site for the site scheme and that this would be the most advanced converter station in the world. 

            One of the ward Members, Councillor P. Shotton spoke against the application as he felt that the noise and visual impact which had been the reasons for refusal of the outline application would still cause a detrimental impact to residents.  Golftyn residents felt that the building was still too high and would be a blot on the landscape.  The noise levels were still a concern as the levels would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76