Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the North Planning Applications Committee which will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Tuesday, 4 August 2015 at 10.30 am.

You are invited to attend and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

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 meeting.

Yours faithfully 

Alaisdair Mackenzie, Legal Manager
(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 Minutes
Dearbhadh a’ Gheàrr-chunntais

There are submitted for confirmation as a correct record the Minutes of Meeting of the North Planning Applications Committee held on 9 June 2015.

4.  Major Applications
Iarrtasan Mòra

There is circulated Report No PLN/037/15 (Plans pp 1 – 3) by the Head of Planning and Building Standards, which provides an update on progress of all cases within the ‘Major’ development category currently with the Planning and Development Service for determination and identifies those proposed applications which have Proposal of Application Notice (PAN). The report also details progress on proposals submitted under S36 or S37 of the Electricity Act 1989 on which the Council is consulted.

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

5.  Planning Applications to be Detemined
Iarrtasan Dealbhaidh rin Dearbhadh

There are circulated Reports Nos PLN/038/15 – PLN/049/15 by the Area Planning Manager (North) which are as follows:-

5.1 Applicant: Creag Riabhach Wind Farm Ltd (14/00004/S36) (PLN/038/15)
Location: Creag Riabhach, Altnaharra Estate, Altnaharra, By Lairg (Ward 01)
Nature of Development: Erection of a wind farm with the potential to generate 72.6 MW
Recommendation: Raise No Objection

5.2 Applicant: Mr B Elias (14/00016/FUL) (PLN/039/15)
Location: Land to North East of Glen View, High Street, Conon Bridge (Ward 09)
Nature of Development: Erection of 3 houses
Recommendation: Refuse.

5.3 Applicant: Ms Sharon Crabtree (14/003758/FUL) (PLN/040/15)
Location: Dunbreck, Culbokie, Dingwall (Ward 10)
Nature of Development: Change of use of dental surgery to dog day care facility and erection of fencing
Recommendation: Grant.

5.4 Applicant: Brora Golf Club (14/04453/FUL) (PLN/041/15)
Location: Land at Brora Golf Club, 25 m East of Little Drumornie, Golf Road, Brora (Ward 05)
Nature of Development: Retrospective planning permission for drainage works to deal with surface water ingress from adjacent land.
Recommendation: Grant.

5.5 Applicant: Stoerhouse Highlands (14/04545/FUL) (PLN/042/15)
Location: Construction of a woodfuel Biomass combined heat and power plant (Ward 04)
Nature of Development: Construction of a wood fuel Biomass combined heat and power plant
Recommendation: Grant.

5.6 Applicant: The Highland Council (15/00341/FUL) (PLN/043/15)
Location: Margaret Carnegie Hostel, Dunvegan Road, Portree, IV51 9GF (Ward 11)
Nature of Development: Demolition of Margaret Carnegie Hostel and Boys Hostel along with the erection of new Gaelic primary school building with outdoor floodlit sports facilities
Recommendation: Grant.

5.7 Applicant: Mr Ian MacDonald (15/000435/S75D) (PLN/044/15)
Location: Land 50 m East of Woodside, West Park, Strathpeffer (Ward 06)
Nature of Development: Application to discharge planning obligation of planning permission 12/01782/FUL – Erection of house with garage.
Recommendation: Refuse.

5.8 Applicant: Arqiva Ltd per Harlequin Group Ltd (15/00642/FUL) (PLN/045/15)
Location: Wester Coillemore Riding Centre, Invergordon, IV18 0PG (Ward 07)
Nature of Development: Installation of 27 m SMART metering mast with 3 m omni antenna and ground based apparatus.
Recommendation: Grant.

5.9 Applicant: Colin and Doreen Carter (15/01513/FUL) (PLN/046/15)
Location: Fasach Wood, Waternish, Isle of Skye (Ward 11)
Nature of Development: Erection of dwellinghouse and double garage, installation of septic tank and Puraflo treatment modules and an air source heat pump.
Recommendation: Grant.

5.10 Applicant: RWE Renewables Ltd (15/01857/S42) (PLN/047/15)
Location: Land at Halsary Forest, Watten, Caithness (Ward 04)
Nature of Development: Construction of a 15 wind turbine wind farm (Halsary Wind Farm) without compliance with Condition 1 of permission 09/00399/FULCA to allow an increase in the maximum turbine height from 100 m to 112 m
Recommendation: Grant.

5.11 Applicant: Mr R and M Bennett (15/01902/FUL) (PLN/048/15)
Location: Land 600 m SE of 1 Husabost, Totaig, Dunvegan, Isle of Skye (Ward 11)
Nature of Development: Permission to replace existing permission 14/01833/FUL. Erection of house together with access and service connections, wastewater infiltration and shed.
Recommendation: Grant.

5.12 Applicant: Partnerships for Renewables Development Company Ltd (15/02006/FUL) (PLN/049/15)
Location: Land at North Clare Forest, West of Fannyfield, Swordale, Evanton (Ward 07)
Nature of Development: Installation of 80m high meteorological mast for temporary period of 3 years
Recommendation: Grant.

6.  ecisions of Appeals to the Scottish Government Directorate for Planning
and Environmental Appeals
Co-dhùnaidhean Ath-thagraidhean do Bhuidheann-stiùiridh Riaghaltas na h-Alba airson Ath-thagraidhean Dealbhaidh agus Àrainneachd

6.1 Applicant: Infinergy Limited (12/04781/S36) (WIN-270-1)
Location: Land 1137 metres South of Creag Leathan, Limekiln Estate, Reay, Caithness
Nature of Development: Construction and operation of Limekiln Wind Farm

The Committee is invited to note that Scottish Ministers have refused the application under Section 36 of the Electricity Act for the construction and operation of the 24 turbine/75 MW Limekiln Wind Farm.  This decision is consistent with the Reporters' findings, reasoning and conclusions from the Public Local Inquiry conducted from 25 to 28 August 2014 and submitted to Scottish Ministers on 20 February 2015.