Agenda item

Report by Head of Development and Economic Growth

The Senior Planning Officer spoke to the terms of the report.  The proposal is for the erection of a 275kV gas insulated switchgear substation to connect into the recently completed overhead line between Inveraray and Crossaig.  The proposal is part of a number of infrastructure proposals to “maintain an efficient, co-ordinate and economical electrical transmission system” and is required to allow connection for renewable energy generation in the area across the wider electricity network.

 

It is considered that the proposal would accord with the principles and policies contained within the Local Development Plan and National Planning Framework 4 and is acceptable in terms of all other applicable in full with the material considerations.

 

It was recommended that planning permission be approved subject to conditions detailed in the report of handling.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed to grant planning permission subject to the following conditions and reasons:

 

1.    The development shall be implemented in accordance with the details specified on the application form dated 16^th December 2022; the Environmental Appraisal (November 2022), supporting information and, the approved drawings listed in the table below unless the prior written approval of the planning authority is obtained for an amendment to the approved details under Section 64 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.

 

Plan Title.	Plan Ref. No.	Version	Date Received
Site Location Plan	A01	A01	13/01/2023
Figure 1.1 An Suidhe Substation Red Line Boundary	A01	A01	13/01/2023
Site Layout Plan	4534a-DR-P-0017	Rev.2	19/12/2022
Substation Compound Layout and Electrical Section Locations	4534a-DR-P-0004	Rev.3	13/01/2023
Proposed Site Access Profiles	4534a-DR-P-0021		07/12/2022
Proposed Site Profiles	4534a-DR-P-0018	Rev.1	07/12/2022
Site Access Details	4534a-DR-P-0008	Rev.1	07/12/2022
Typical Access Track Sections – Sheet 1	4534a-DR-P-0007	Rev.2	07/12/2022
Typical Access Track Sections – Sheet 2	4534a-DR-P-0012	Rev.2	07/12/2022
Typical Deer Fence and Gate	4534a-DR-P-0016		07/12/2022
2.5m High Security Palisade Fencing Details	CE/34/2015	Rev.E	19/12/2022
Electrical Layout Elevations 01	4534a-DR-P-0011	Rev.1	07/12/2022
Electrical layout Elevations 02	4534a-DR_P-0013	Rev.2	07/12/2022
Generator Building Elevations	4534a-DR-P-0009	Rev.2	07/12/2022
Generator Building Floor Plan	LT288 An SUIDHE_DIESEL_FLOOR	Rev.1	13/01/2023
Substation Building Elevations	4534a-DR-P-0006	Rev.2	07/12/2022
Substation Building Layout	4534a-DR-P-0005	Rev.1	07/12/2022
Transformer Building Elevations	4534a-DR-P-0019		07/12/2022
Transformer Building Layout	4534a-DR-P-0020		07/12/2022
An Suidhe Septic Tank and Private Water Supply Location		A01	13/01/2023

 

Reason: For the purpose of clarity, to ensure that the development is implemented in accordance with the approved details.

 

2.    No construction works shall be commenced until a Finalised Construction Environmental Management Document [CEMD] has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority, in consultation with SEPA and other consultees, as appropriate. The development shall then proceed in accordance with the approved CEMD unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Planning Authority. The CEMD shall include:

 

a)    An updated Schedule of Mitigation (SM) highlighting mitigation set out within each chapter of the Environmental Appraisal (EA), and the conditions of this consent;

b)    Processes to control/ action changes from the agreed SM;

c)    Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMPs) for the construction phase covering:

 

i)             Habitat and species protection, including ECoW Details, surveys and species protection plans;

ii)            Landscape and Mitigation Restoration Plan including compensatory planting (refer to Condition 9);

iii)           Pollution prevention and control;

iv)           Dust management, including construction activity and vehicle movements;

v)            Construction noise and vibration

vi)           Temporary site lighting;

vii)         Watercourse crossings;

viii)        Site waste management

ix)           Surface and ground water management, including: drainage and sediment management measures from all construction areas including access tracks, mechanisms to ensure that construction will not take place during periods of high flow or high rainfall; and a programme of water quality monitoring;

x)            Soil Management and Peat Management Plan

xi)           Mapping of borrow pits and associated habitats identified for restoration;

xii)         Invasive Non-Native Species Management Plan

xiii)        Emergency Response Plans;

xiv)        Timetable for post construction restoration/ reinstatement of the temporary working areas and construction compound; and

xv)         Other relevant environmental management as may be relevant to the development

 

d)    A statement of responsibility to ‘stop the job/ activity’ if a breach or potential breach of mitigation or legislation occurs; and

e)    Methods of monitoring, auditing, reporting and the communication of environmental management on site and with client, Planning Authority, and other relevant parties.

 

Reason: To ensure protection of surrounding environmental interests and general amenity.

 

3.    No development shall commence until a Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) and Phased Delivery Plan have been prepared and approved in writing by the Local Authority, in consultation with the Roads Authority, and Transport Scotland as the trunk roads Authority. The Plan shall include details of:

 

a)    Approved access routes,

b)    Agreed operational practises (including avoidance of convoy movements, specifying conduct in use of passing places, identification of turning areas, information of wheel cleansing facilities, signage to be installed on the A83 warning of construction traffic, signage or temporary traffic control measures to include for larger or abnormal loads, reporting of verge damage);

c)    The provision of an appropriate Code of Practice to drivers of construction and delivery vehicles.

d)    Abnormal load route surveys and finalised plan (including any accommodation measures required including the removal of street furniture, junction widening, traffic management).

 

The development shall be implemented in accordance with the duly approved Traffic Management Plan

 

Reason: To minimise the interference with the safety and free flow of traffic on the trunk road and to ensure that the transportation of abnormal loads will not have any detrimental effect on the trunk road network.

 

4.    No development or ground breaking works shall commence until a programme of archaeological works in accordance with a written scheme of investigation, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority in consultation with the West of Scotland Archaeology Service. The scheme shall be prepared by a suitably qualified person and shall provide for the recording, recovery and reporting of items of interest or finds within the application site. Thereafter the development shall be implemented in accordance with the duly approved details with the suitably qualified person being afforded access at all reasonable times during ground disturbance works.

 

Reason: In order to protect archaeological resources.

 

5.    No development shall commence, until a strategy for housing incoming construction workers shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority. Thereafter the development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

 

Reason: In order to ensure that any potential adverse impacts on the functioning of the local housing market and tourist accommodation to the detriment of the interests of the local community are identified and mitigated in accordance with the requirements of NPF4, and in particular Policy 11C and Policy 25 Objectives.

 

6.    No development shall commence until an appraisal of the wholesomeness and sufficiency of the intended private water supply and the system required to serve the development has been submitted to and approved by the Planning Authority.

 

The appraisal shall be carried out by a qualified hydrologist/ hydrogeologist or other suitably competent person and shall include a risk assessment having regard to the requirements of Schedule 4 of the Private Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2006 or Part 3 of the Water Intended for Human Consumption (Private Supplies) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 (as appropriate) which shall inform the design of the system by which a wholesome and sufficient water supply shall be provided and maintained. The appraisal shall also demonstrate that the wholesomeness and sufficiency of any other supply in the vicinity of the development, or any other person utilising the same source or supply, shall not be compromised by the proposed development.

 

The development shall not be brought into use or occupied until the required water supply system has been installed in accordance with the agreed specification and is operational.

 

Reason: In the interests of public health and in order to ensure that an adequate private water supply in terms of both wholesomeness and sufficiency can be provided to meet the requirements of the proposed development and without compromising the interests of other users of the same or nearby private water supplies.

 

7.    No development shall commence until detailed planning permission has been granted for the watercourse diversion works located outwith the red line development boundary of 22/02479/PP. 

 

Reason: To ensure that the watercourse diversion works located outwith the red line development boundary for this application are considered in full and permitted by separate planning application, in accordance with SEPA advice.

 

8.    No development shall commence until full details of the final drainage scheme and watercourse diversion have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority, in consultation with the Council’s Flood Risk Advisors and SEPA. The approved drainage and watercourse diversion scheme shall be implemented in full and maintained in accordance with the approved details in full, prior to the first use of the development.

 

Reason: To ensure satisfactory arrangements for the disposal of surface water are provided and to ensure the watercourse diversion is acceptable.

 

9.    No development shall commence, until a revised Landscape Planting Plan and Maintenance Plan in accordance with BS EN ISO 11091:1999 has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority. The revised plans must include:

 

a)    A plan showing numbers and locations of each tree and shrub species;

b)    Planting schedule to show for each species, the total number, type and size at planting;

c)    Specification for planting to include ground preparation, planting operations and protection from herbivores;

d)    Compensatory planting scheme for tree loss

e)    Schedule of implementation and phasing;

 

The approved Landscape Planting Plan and Maintenance Plan shall thereafter be implemented in full in accordance with the implementation schedule and maintained in accordance with the approved details. Any plant losses within the first five years will be replaced at the next planting season.

 

Reason: To ensure the development conserves and enhances the landscape character and biodiversity interests of the area.

 

10. Watercourse crossings, hereby permitted, shall be designed to at least the capacity of the existing channel and to the 1 in 200 year plus climate change flow and an allowance for freeboard, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Planning Authority. 

 

Reason: To ensure that new watercourse crossings do not affect the existing flows in the interests of flood risk.

 

11. No external lighting shall be installed on the site other than with the prior written approval of the planning authority. In that event the location, type and luminance of the lighting units to be installed shall be specified, and any duly approved lighting shall be installed in a manner which minimises illumination and glare outwith the boundary of the application site. The site shall not be illuminated other than in the event of staff being present on site.

 

Reason: In order to avoid unnecessary visual intrusion in the interests of the visual amenity of an area otherwise unaffected by the presence of light sources.

 

(Reference: Report by Head of Development and Economic Growth dated 9 May 2023, submitted)