Agenda item

Planning Reference – 231336

 

All documents associated with this application can be found at the following link and enter the refence number above:-

 

Link.

 

Planning Officer:  Gavin Clark

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer- Strategic Place Planning, which recommended:-

 

That the application for Detailed Planning Permission for the erection of  battery storage units with associated infrastructure, control building, switch room, inverter containers, lighting, fencing and associated works including access road, at land at Rigifa Farm, Cove Road, Aberdeen, be approved subject to the following conditions:-

 

Conditions

 

(01)  DURATION OF PERMISSION

 

The development to which this notice relates must be begun not later than the expiration of 3 years beginning with the date of this notice. If development has not begun at the expiration of the 3-year period, the planning permission lapses.

 

Reason - in accordance with section 58 (duration of planning permission) of the 1997 act.

 

(02)  LANDSCAPING

 

All soft landscaping proposals shall be carried out in accordance with the approved scheme of landscaping (Neo Environmental drawing: NEO01249_026_B) or such other drawing approved for the purpose) and shall be completed during the planting season immediately following the commencement of the development or such other date as may be agreed in writing with the planning authority. Any planting which, within a period of five years from the completion of the development, in the opinion of the planning authority is dying, is severely damaged or becoming seriously diseased, shall be replaced by plants of similar size and species to those originally required to be planted.

 

Reason – to satisfactorily integrate the development into the surrounding area and enhance biodiversity.

 

(03)  NOISE – EQUIPMENT

 

No development shall take place unless evidence has been submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority that the warranted sound power levels of the chosen equipment meets the assumptions considered in the Noise Impact Assessment: 231336-04 Rev D produced by Neo Environmental. Where the proposed items are found to vary in sound power level from the assumptions, confirmation is required that the operational noise levels will meet the relevant criteria (noise limits) through an updated noise impact assessment to be submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority.

 

Reason – to protect surrounding residential properties from any unreasonable noise generated by the development.

 

(04) PROVISION OF NOISE BARRIER

The development hereby approved shall not be brought into use unless the noise barrier recommended in Noise Impact Assessment 231336-04 Rev D produced by Neo Environmental has been installed in accordance with paragraph 3.70 and Figure 3.2 of the assessment along with the detailed design shown on Drawing No: J7/01166 and PLN00XX REV 1 (or other such details approved for the purpose). Thereafter, the barrier shall remain in place for the duration of the life of the development and shall be maintained to ensure that it continues to perform to the minimum specifications of the assessment.

 

Reason – to protect surrounding residential properties from any unreasonable noise generated by the development.

 

(05) CESSATION OF OPERATION

 

The operator of the battery energy storage system shall notify the planning authority in writing if the site does not function for a continuous period of more than six months. The notification must occur within one month of the expiry of the six-month period.

 

Reason – to define the cessation of operation and to give effect to the restoration of the development site.

 

(06) DECOMMISSIONING

 

Six months prior to the decommissioning of the battery energy storage system, a decommissioning and site restoration scheme shall be submitted for the written approval of the planning authority. The scheme shall provide details of (i) how equipment, ancillary structures and infrastructure located within the development hereby approved would be decommissioned and removed and the site made good; and (ii) a timescale for these actions. Thereafter, decommissioning and the making good of the site shall be carried out in accordance with the approved restoration scheme.

 

Reason – to ensure satisfactory restoration of the site and continued integrity of the green belt.

 

(07) DETAILED DESIGN – ACCESS ROAD

 

No development shall take place unless a detailed design for the proposed access road, including detailed cross-sections and protection measures for parts of the road adjacent to any existing infrastructure shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority. Thereafter, the proposed access shall be completed in accordance with the approved details.

 

Reason: to ensure that the proposed access road can be adequately constructed and in the interests of road safety.

 

(08) MITIGATION SCHEME – DESIGN OF BESS

 

No development shall commence unless and until full details of the proposed battery storage containers (and ancillary infrastructure) hereby permitted have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority. These details shall include:

 

a)    design (if deviating from the Noise Impact Assessment accompanying the application), layout and dimensions of the battery storage containers (and ancillary infrastructure) and the metering building to be installed' and

b)    detailed design of the structures including foundations and insulation mount design to accept a higher peak particle velocity limit as detailed in the supporting documents “Response to Quarry Objection” and the updated Design and Access Statement. Thereafter, the battery storage containers and associated infrastructure shall be installed and operate in accordance with these approved details and maintained in the approved colours, free from rust, staining or discolouration until such time as the development is decommissioned. All cables between the battery storage containers, metering building and any point of connection to the public network shall be installed and kept underground.

 

Reason: to ensure the Planning Authority is aware of the development details and to protect the visual amenity of the area. Application Reference: 231336/DPP

 

(09) FUTURE EMERGENCY PLAN

 

In line with the recommendations of the approved Fire Risk Management Plan and prior to the occupation of the proposed facility, an emergency plan shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority. Thereafter, the development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved document.

 

Reason: to ensure that any potential fire risk/ accidents are adequately mitigated against and to ensure that appropriate mitigation measures are put in place.

 

(10) DRAINAGE DETAILS

 

That prior to the commencement of development, a Drainage Impact Assessment shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by the Planning Authority. For avoidance of doubt, the detailed drainage design should also include any drainage arrangements for the proposed access road. Thereafter, the proposals shall be implemented in full accordance with the approved scheme.

 

Reason: to ensure that the proposed site and mitigation measures are fit for purpose, and to ensure that the site can be adequately drained.

 

The Committee heard from Gavin Clark, Senior Planner, who spoke in furtherance of the application and answered various questions from Members.

 

The Committee then heard from Colin Ortlepp, Leiths, who objected to the proposed application.

 

The Committee then heard from David Bowman, on behalf of the applicant who spoke in support of the application.

 

Members had the opportunity to ask both parties questions. 

 

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the application conditionally with conditions 8 and 9 amended to read:-

 

(08)        MITIGATION SCHEME – DESIGN OF BESS

 

No development shall commence unless and until full details of the proposed battery storage containers (and ancillary infrastructure) hereby permitted have been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Planning Authority. These details shall include:

 

(a)           design (if deviating from the Noise Impact Assessment accompanying the application), layout and dimensions of the battery storage containers (and ancillary infrastructure) and the metering building to be installed;

(b)           detailed design including foundations and insulation design to accept a higher peak particle velocity limit as detailed in the supporting documents “Response to Quarry Objection” and the updated Design and Access Statement;

(c)           independent verification by a qualified firm of engineers of the validity and efficacy of the proposed design in terms of safety; and

(d)           the submission of a continual blast vibration monitoring programme (submitted prior to the commencement of development and thereafter annually from the date of this permission), to ensure that the development would not restrict quarrying operations.

 

Thereafter, the battery storage containers and associated infrastructure shall not be installed and operated other than in accordance with these approved details and shall be maintained in the approved colours, free from rust, staining or discolouration until such time as the development is decommissioned. All cables between the battery storage containers, metering building and any point of connection to the public network shall be installed and kept underground.

 

Reason: to ensure the Planning Authority is aware of the development details and to protect the visual amenity of the area.

 

(09)        FUTURE EMERGENCY PLAN

 

In line with the recommendations of the approved Fire Risk Management Plan and prior to the occupation of the proposed facility, an emergency plan shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority. This document shall ensure full compliance with the recommendations and guidance contained within the National Fire Chiefs Council – Guidance for FRS. Thereafter, the development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved document.

 

Reason: to ensure that any potential fire risk/ accidents are adequately mitigated against and to ensure that appropriate mitigation measures are put in place.