Dairy farm building approved

This afternoon plans to build a dairy farm building next to the wind turbine south of the B4465 at Wapley were unanimously aproved by the DC (East) planning committee.

Dairy farm building application to be decided next Thursday

Plans to build a dairy farm building next to the wind turbine south of the B4465 at Wapley will go before the DC (East) planning committee next Thursday (28th August). The meeting starts at 3pm in Kingswood and the agenda and the officer's report on the dairy farm are available online. The officer’s recommendation is just that – a recommendation. It is the members of the committee who will make the decision on the day. As always, both supporters and objectors have a 5 minute slot in which to address the committee, so if there are lots of people it's worth nominating a spokesperson to speak on everyone's behalf. The local ward member, Claire Young, has a separate opportunity to speak.

Dairy farm application referred to committee

Claire Young has referred the application for a dairy farm building south of the B4465 at Wapley to the planning committee. Dodington Parish Council and residents continued to have concerns despite revised plans being submitted.

Dairy application latest

Last week Claire Young attended the Dodington Parish Council Planning Sub-Committee meeting, along with the applicant for the dairy farm at Wapley and concerned residents. At the meeting, the Parish Council asked for it to be referred to committee and for a site visit to look at concerns about the scale and location of the proposed dairy building. There were also worries about the impact on the water course. Claire has written to the case officer indicating that this is what she will do if the recommendation is for approval.

Application for dairy farm following wind turbine approval

Following the approval on appeal for a wind turbine south of the B4465 at Wapley, the applicant has now made an application to South Glos for a dairy on the land. You can find the details online (if for any reason that link doesn't work, please go to the planning application search page and enter the reference number PK14/1112/F).

Wind turbine approved on appeal

Plans to build a 100kW wind turbine at Wapley, south of the B4465 between Westerleigh and Codrington, have been approved on appeal.

Back in March the DC (East) planning committee refused the application on a majority vote. That decision has now been overturned by a planning inspector, who felt that the benefits of the renewable energy generated outweighed the harmful effects on the openness of the Green Belt.

Appeal against wind turbine refusal

The applicant has submitted an appeal against the planning committee’s refusal of permission to build a wind turbine south of the B4465 between Westerleigh and Codrington.

All the original comments will be sent to the appeal inspector, they do not need to be resubmitted, but if you have any additional points to make to the Inspector the deadline is 25 June. You can find details of the appeal by going to the planning portal and using the reference number: APP/P0119/A/13/2196500.

Wind turbine refused

Campaigners at the site visit

An application for a wind turbine at Wapley, south of the B4465 between Westerleigh and Codrington, was yesterday refused by the DC (East) planning committee on the grounds that the special circumstances of the need for renewable energy did not outweigh the harm to the Green Belt.

The applicant said this was the first stage in a project to create a low carbon dairy business, but the application referred only to the wind turbine and officers advised that possible future proposals could not be given weight when determining the application.

Concerns were raised by residents about possible noise and flicker effects at their properties, the nearest of which were less than 300m away.  One neighbour had obtained an expert report which challenged the applicant's noise report and suggested an additional condition be applied. Speaking as the local member I asked whether it would be possible to apply this extra condition if permission were granted to ensure that any noise fears were addressed.

However,  it was not the concerns about noise or flicker that led to the refusal, but the impact on the Green Belt. When a development is proposed in the Green Belt that does not fall into one of a small category that are considered appropriate, the applicant has to show that there are special circumstances to justify it. The need for renewable energy is, according to national planning guidance, a special circumstance. As I said in my comments, many of us agree on the importance of renewable energy, including wind turbines. The issues residents raised were about the specifics of the application.

The committee was being asked to balance this special circumstance against the impact on the Green Belt.  As this was central to the decision,  I had asked the committee to visit the site, rather than simply relying on paper plans. Residents at the site visit (see picture above) felt the harm to the landscape and openness of the Green Belt was significant. After a long debate, a majority of the committee agreed.

The applicant can appeal against the decision to the Planning Inspectorate.

Decision on wind turbine next Thursday

Next Thursday (28th March) the DC (East) planning committee will decide whether a wind turbine can be built south of the B4465 at Wapley. You can view the agenda and the officer's report online.

Planning committee to visit wind turbine site

The Development Control (East) planning committee will visit the site of the proposed wind turbine near Codrington on Friday (15th March) at approximately 9.55am. You can read the officer's report in the agenda papers.

Wind turbine application resubmitted

The application for a wind turbine south of the B4465 between Codrington and Westerleigh has been resubmitted. You can view the application and make comments on the South Glos website.

Wind turbine proposed near Wayleaze, Codrington Road

A planning application has been submitted for a wind turbine on land near Wayleaze, Codrington Road. You can find out more and make comments online.

Wind turbine plans for new Council offices

South Gloucestershire Council has agreed to look into erecting a wind turbine on land adjacent to the new Council offices on Badminton Road. If installed, it would provide part of the power needed for the offices.