20 January 2015: South Planning Applications Committee

Site Visits on 19 January 2015

Please be aware that the scheduled site visits by the South Planning Applications Committee in respect of two projects on Monday 19 January including Agenda Item 5.1 Millennium South and 6.1 Beinn Mhor Wind Farm has been postponed because of adverse weather and poor road conditions.

The visits will be re-arranged for either the 9, 16 or 23 February 2015 depending on weather conditions. Information confirming the final arrangements will be sent to all parties before the end of January 2015.

A site visit by the South Planning Applications Committee to view the Millennium Wind Farm at Glenmoriston and Beinn Mhor Wind Farm at Tomich will take place on Monday 19 January, 2015 leaving from Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness at 8.30 am.  The applications will be determined at the South Planning Applications Committee meeting to be held on 20 January 2015 at Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness at 10.30 am.

Monday 19 January 08:30 am: Transport departs Council HQ, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness to transport Members to for a site visit in respect of Items 5.1and 6.1

Tuesday 20 January 10.30 am: Committee meeting in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness

You are invited to attend and a note of the business to be considered is attached.  Members are respectfully reminded to wear clothing and footwear appropriate to the site and weather conditions.

Members are reminded that during determination of any item before this Committee they must be present throughout the whole of that item in order to be entitled to participate.

Members are further reminded that mobile devices, including mobile phones, can be used for following the agenda/reports and delivering speeches but should not be used for any form of communication (text or tweet) during the site visit.

Yours faithfully

Susan Blease, Principal Solicitor
(for Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Development)

1.  Apologies for Absence
Leisgeulan

2.  Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting.  Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest.  Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3.  Confirmation of Minute
Dearbhadh a’ Gheàrr-chunntais

There are submitted for confirmation as a correct record the Minutes of Meeting of the South Planning Applications Committee held on 23 December 2015

4.  Major Applications
Iarrtasan Mòra

There is circulated Report No. PLS/001/15 by the Head of Planning and Building Standards, which provides a summary of all cases within the “Major” development category currently with the Planning and Development Service for determination.

The Committee is invited to note the current position of these applications.

5.  Continued Item
Cuspairean a' Leantain

There is re-circulated Report No PLS/099/14 by the Head of Planning and Building Standards, as follows:-

5.1
Applicant: Falck Renewables Wind Limited (14/02055/S36) (PLS/099/15)
Location: Millennium Windfarm Glenmoriston (Ward 13)
Nature of Development: Construction of 10 additional wind turbines and ancillary infrastructure (Millennium South Wind Farm)
Recommendation: Raise no objection

6.  Planning Applications to be Determined
Iarrtasan Dealbhaidh rin Dearbhadh

There are circulated Reports Nos. PLS/002/15 – PLS/005/15 by the Area Planning Manager (South) and the Head of Planning and Building Standards, which are as follows:-

6.1
Applicant: WPD Beinn Mhor Ltd  (14/01731/FUL) (PLS/002/15)
location: Land at Beinn Mhor, Guisachan, Tomich (Ward 13)
Nature of Development: The proposal is for the formation of an 18 MW wind farm, including erection of 6 wind turbines on 78.5m towers (height to tip 119.5m) (rotor diameter 82m), erection of control building/sub-station, erection of a meteorological mast, formation of hardstandings, access tracks and temporary assembly areas.
Recommendation: Grant

6.2
Applicant: Force 9 Energy Partners LLP and EDF Energy ER (14/04301/FUL) (PLS/003/15)
Location: Land 2800M NW of Achratagan, Balnain, Drumnadrochit (Ward 13)
Nature of Development: Erection of 80m high meteorological mast
Recommendation: Grant

6.3
Applicant: Force 9 Energy Partners LLP and EDF Energy ER (14/04302/FUL) (PLS/004/15)
Location: Land 1175M East Of Creag Muigeil, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit (Ward 13)
Nature of Development: Erection of 80m high meteorological mast
Recommendation: Grant

6.4
Application: Mr J Crawford (14/04556/FUL) (PLS/005/15)
Location: Croft Cottage, Sunnyside, Culloden Moor, Inverness (Ward 20)
Nature of Development: Erection of sun lounge extension
Recommendation: Grant 

Minute of Meeting of the South Planning Applications Committee held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Tuesday 20 January 2015 at 10.30 am.

Committee Members Present:

Mr R Balfour
Mr B Clark
Mr J Crawford (except Item 6.2)
Mrs M Davidson
Mr L Fraser (as substitute for Mr C Macaulay)
Mr J Gray
Mr D Kerr
Mr R Laird
Mr B Lobban
Mr T MacLennan
Mr F Parr
Mr T Prag (excluding Item 6.2 – 6.4)
Ms J Slater
Mr H Wood

Officials in attendance:

Mr A Todd, Area Planning Manager South
Mr D Mudie, Team Leader
Ms N Drummond, Team Leader
Mr K McCorquodale, Principal Planner
Mr S Hindson, Planner
Mr M Clough, Senior Engineer
Ms S Blease, Principal Solicitor (Clerk)
Mrs A MacArthur, Administrative Assistant

Mr J Gray in the Chair

Business

1.  Apologies
Leisgeulan

Apologies were received from Mr C Macaulay, Mr A Baxter, Mr A Duffy, Mr D Fallows and Mr M Green. 

2.  Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Mr J Crawford – Item 6.4 (Financial)

3.  Confirmation of Minutes
Dearbhadh a’ Gheàrr-chunntais

There had been circulated for confirmation as a correct record the minute of the Committee meeting held on 23 December 2014 which was APPROVED.

4.  Major Applications

There had been circulated Report No PLS/001/15 by the Head of Planning and Building Standards which provided a summary of all cases within the “Major” development category currently with the Planning and Development Service for determination.

In response to questions the following further updates were given:

• Dalmagarry Quarry – a meeting with Transport Scotland is to be held on the 28 January and Members would be informed in due course following the outcome of the meeting;
• Loch Ness Homes Limited – the Section 75 Agreement had been drafted and was with the applicant;
• Delnies – meeting with applicants who are to discuss with their clients at the end of the month and it would be known then how this application was to be taken forward.

The Committee agreed to NOTE the current position.

5.  Continued Items
Cuspair a’ Leantain

5.1  Applicant: Falck Renewables Wind Limited (14/02055/S36) (PLS/099/15)
Location: Millennium Windfarm Glenmoriston (Ward 13)
Nature of Development: Construction of 10 additional wind turbines and ancillary infrastructure (Millennium South Wind Farm)
Recommendation: Raise no objection

Following postponement of the site inspection which had been planned for 19 January 2015, the Committee agreed to DEFER decision on their consultation response pending a site inspection to be rearranged for a date in February 2015. 

6.  Planning Applications to be Determined
Iarrtasan Dealbhaidh rin Dearbhadh

6.1  Applicant: WPD Beinn Mhor Ltd (14/01731/FUL) (PLS/002/15)
Location: Land at Beinn Mhor, Guisachan, Tomich (Ward 13)
Nature of Development: The proposal is for the formation of an 18 MW wind farm, including erection of 6 wind turbines on 78.5 m towers (height to tip 119.5 m) (rotor diameter 82 m), erection of control building/sub-station, erection of a meteorological mast, formation of hardstandings, access tracks and temporary assembly areas.
Recommendation: Grant

Following postponement of the site inspection which had been planned for 19 January 2015, the Committee agreed to DEFER determination of the application pending a site inspection to be rearranged for a date in February 2015.

6.2 Applicant: Force 9 Energy Partners LLP and EDF Energy ER (14/04301/FUL) (PLS/003/15)
Location: Land 2800 m NW of Achratagan, Balnain, Drumnadrochit (Ward 13)
Nature of Development: Erection of 80 m high meteorological mast
Recommendation: Grant

There had been circulated Report No PLS/003/15 by the Area Planning Manager South recommending that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions recommended in the report.

Ms N Drummond presented the report and recommendation.

In response to questions it was confirmed that:

• An additional condition to restrict vehicle movements to the site, during both the construction and operational periods, to Mondays to Fridays and outwith school run times could be added with Local Member consultation;
• A report on an on-shore wind farm strategy was to go to the next Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee meeting and the policy and practice in relation to applications for meteorological masts that are precursors to wind farms could be discussed at that meeting.

The Committee agreed to GRANT planning permission subject to the conditions recommended in the report with an additional condition to restrict vehicle movements to the site, during both the construction and operational periods, to Mondays to Fridays and outwith school run times.

Local Members would be consulted on the final terms of the additional condition.

6.3  Applicant: Force 9 Energy Partners LLP and EDF Energy ER (14/04302/FUL) (PLS/004/15)
Location: Land 1175M East Of Creag Muigeil, Glenurquhart, Drumnadrochit (Ward 13)
Nature of Development: Erection of 80m high meteorological mast
Recommendation: Grant

There had been circulated Report No PLS/004/15 by the Area Planning Manager South recommending that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions recommended in the report.

Ms N Drummond presented the report and recommendation.

In response to questions it was confirmed that:

• An additional condition to restrict vehicle movements to the site, during both the construction and operational periods, to Mondays to Fridays and outwith school run times could be added with Local Member consultation. 

The Committee agreed to GRANT planning permission subject to the conditions recommended in the report with an additional condition to restrict vehicle movements to the site, during both the construction and operational periods, to Mondays to Fridays and outwith school run times. 

Local Members would be consulted on the final terms of the additional condition.

6.4  Applicant: Mr J Crawford (14/04556/FUL) (PLS/005/15)
Location: Croft Cottage, Sunnyside, Culloden Moor, Inverness (Ward 20)
Nature of Development: Erection of sun lounge extension
Recommendation: Grant

Mr J Crawford declared a financial interest as he was the applicant and left the chamber for the duration of this item. 

There had been circulated Report No PLS/005/15 by the Area Planning Manager South recommending that planning permission be granted. 

Ms N Drummond presented the report and recommendation.

The Committee agreed to GRANT planning permission unconditionally.   

The meeting ended at 11.05 am.