Report on proposed Windfarm, Sheephouse Heights Penistone

Report of Head of Planning, Development Services to West And North Planning And Highways Area Board on 23rd September 2008

1. Introduction

1.1 A planning application, including an Environmental Statement, has been submitted to Barnsley MDC for the erection of 15MW windfarm comprising 5 wind turbines with a height to hub of 80 metres and with a 90 metre radius rotor diameter giving a height to blade tip of 125 metres.

1.2 The turbines are to be located at Sheephouse Heights, approximately 1 kilometre north of the nearest built up area of Stocksbridge and about the same distance from Midhopestones. The turbines are close to and will be visible from Stocksbridge and its surrounds within the City Council area and accordingly, Barnsley MDC have notified the City Council of the receipt of the application and requested comments.

2. National, Regional And Local Policy

2.1 The Government has a target of 10% of the UK electricity supply to come from renewables by 2010 and 20% by 2020.

2.2 The Yorkshire and Humber Plan sets a target provision in South Yorkshire of 47MW by 2010 and 160MW by 2020. This proposal will provide 15MW.

2.3 The Sheffield Unitary Development Plan Policy GE28 encourages the development of wind turbines subject to the landscape impacts being kept to an acceptable level, particularly in Areas of High Landscape Value and area conspicuous from the Peak Park, the impacts on living conditions on nearby residents not being significantly adversely affected, there being no harm to nature conservation sites, conservation areas, listed buildings or significant archaeological sites and the removal of the equipment and site restoration when the equipment is removed.

3. Representations

3.1 The application is to Barnsley MDC and neighbour notification and consultations have been carried out by them. Stocksbridge Town Council, Stocksbridge Community Forum and Bradfield Parish Council have been consulted and neighbour letters sent (on the Sheffield side) to residents in the Midhopestones, Upper Midhope and Langsett areas plus properties on Unsliven Road, Smithy Moor Avenue, Smithy Moor Lane, Cross Lane, New Hall Crescent plus site notices have been posted and the proposal has been advertised in the press.

Responses should have been sent direct to Barnsley.

3.2 Stocksbridge Ward Councillors have been consulted and have confirmed that they have commented direct to Barnsley via Stocksbridge Town Council.

3.3 Stocksbridge Town Council have confirmed that they have written to Barnsley MDC to raise objections to the proposal on the grounds of the siting within a green belt area, the height of the turbines being too large and the loss of amenity for Stocksbridge residents.

3.4 Angela Smith MP has written expressing her grave concerns over the application and mentioning that she has received a large number of objections from residents living in the affected area. In summary, Angela Smith asks the Council to object to this particular application because:

the turbines are higher than others proposed for the area;
the area of Sheephouse Heights/Hunshelf Bank is an area of outstanding beauty within clear view of Stocksbridge, Midhope, Langsett, Midhopestones and Bolsterstone; and 2 km from the national park;
the effect on this unique environment, especially the visual landscape, with the development overlooking three Conservation Areas;
PPG15 points out that the effect of proposed development outside a Conservation Area or its setting, or on views into or out of the area, is a material consideration;
and it would be astounding that in an area where local residents cannot place satellite dishes or build small extensions, a private company could erect the largest turbines the UK has so far seen on shore.

3.5 A copy letter to Barnsley has been received from a local resident setting out a series of concerns over the proposals and objections on the grounds that the turbines will dominate the local landscape and communities, they will overlook the conservation areas of Midhope and Langsett, they will dominate the landscape of the Dark Peak National Park and will create noise problems, which the developer, Barnsley MDC and Sheffield CC cannot guarantee will not happen.

4. Potential Impacts

4.1 Landscape

4.1.1 The turbines will be visible as a feature in the landscape from substantial distances. Although there are other vertical elements in the landscape on the northern valley side such as electricity pylons, the turbines will have an impact above and beyond this. The landscape impact can be appreciated in more detail in respect of the effect on the local conservation areas as discussed below.

4.2 Conservation Areas

4.2.1 The application does not appear to have taken into account the impact on any of the conservation areas (CA) which lie within the Sheffield boundary.

4.2.2 The area of most concern is the impact on Midhopestones CA, where the Environmental Statement (ES) recognises a ‘major’ and ‘significant’ effect on viewpoint. The viewpoint, in the ES is taken from quite a high point in the CA, but even so, it clearly demonstrates that the turbines will be visually prominent. This view is already adversely affected by electricity pylons and power lines crossing the skyline.

4.2.3 As stated in the CA Appraisal (October 2007), one of the features that justifies Midhopestones’ designation as a CA is the open rural character and the setting of terraces on sloping land within a sheltered valley above the River Porter, with extensive views eastwards and westwards along that valley.

4.2.4 The proposals will have a detrimental impact on the setting and extensive views from the higher and open parts of the CA. The electricity pylons already have an adverse effect, but the turbines will be more prominent. On balance, given the renewable energy benefits of the proposals, the existence of the electricity pylons and power lines and the distance from the CA, it is not considered that these concerns about the impact on the setting and views from the CA merit a formal objection to the proposals.

4.2.5 It will be possible to see clear but distant views of the proposed turbines from Bolsterstone CA. However, these will be on the horizon and sufficiently distant and small to have no adverse affect on the CA.

4.3 Highways

4.3.1 The main impact of the proposed windfarm on the highway network will be during the construction phase. The developers propose to use haulage routes, especially for abnormal loads, that do not require journeys within the City Council boundaries.

4.4 Noise

4.4.1 The Environmental Statement identifies a small number of properties that could potentially receive noise levels in excess of the minimum applicable limit. None of these properties lie within the City Council area so, at the distances involved, noise is unlikely to be a problem within the City Council area.

4.5 Other issues

TV reception

4.5.1 No information has been provided to indicate what effect, if any, the proposal would have on television reception in the area. In the absence of such information, there is a concern that interference could occur.

Shadow Flicker

4.5.2 Shadow flicker effects occur within 10 rotor diameters of the turbine and within 130° either side of north. None of the City Council area lies within these parameters and so flicker is not considered to be a problem here.

5. Equal Opportunities Implications

5.1 There are no equal opportunities implications arising from this report.

6. Financial Implications

6.1 There are no financial implications arising from this report.

7. Sustainability Implications

7.1 The provision of a renewable energy source is in line with national, regional and local policy, in principle. The development will provide a source of renewable energy helping to reduce carbon emissions.

8. Summary And Recommendation

8.1 The proposal would provide for a renewable energy source, contributing to the reduction in carbon emissions and can be supported in principle.

8.2 The turbines, however, are large structures and will be visible from a significant area around Stocksbridge and beyond. The scale of the turbines is such that they will be prominent in views from Midhopestones CA, where there will be some harm to the setting and views out of the CA. As such there are concerns over the impact of the proposal, but not sufficient to recommend objecting.

8.3 It is recommended that Members note the above mentioned concerns over the proposed development and agree that this report be sent to Barnsley MDC as a response to the consultation on the planning application.

Phil Abbott

Head of Planning

11 September 2008

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