Agenda and minutes

*P&L 17         

An apology for absence was received from Cllr A Roberts (Substitute: Cllr P R Sanders).

Members are invited to declare any personal or disclosable pecuniary interests, including the nature and extent of such interests they may have in any items to be considered at this meeting.

[If Councillors have any questions relating to predetermination, bias or interests in items on this Agenda, then please contact the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting]    

*P&L 18         

Cllr G Parker – 00578/2015 – Cllr Parker declared that he had spoken to the applicant at length regarding this application and therefore felt he had predetermined the decision.  He spoke in his capacity as a local Ward Member and then withdrew from the meeting for the debate and vote.

Cllr P R Sanders – 00578/2015 – Cllr Sanders declared a personal interest by virtue of being a known friend of the applicant.  He left the meeting for the duration of this item.

Cllr T G Pearce declared a personal interest in all applications by virtue of being on the Management Board of Devon Building Control Partnership.  He remained in the meeting throughout and took part in the debate and vote on all items.

Meeting held on 21^st July 2015

*P&L 19         

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 21 July 2015 (page 1 to the Agenda), were confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To see Letters of Representation and further supplementary information relating to any of the planning applications on the agenda, please select the following link and enter the relevant Reference number: http://westdevon.gov.uk/searchlanding

*P&L 20         

The Committee considered the applications prepared by the Lead Specialist – Development Management and considered also the comments of Town and Parish Councils together with other representations received, which were listed within the presented agenda reports and summarised below, and RESOLVED:

PLANNING APPLICATION REPORT

Case Officer:   James Clements                            Ward:  Drewsteignton

Ward Members: Cllr Ridgers

Reason item is being put before Committee

Ward Member stated that he ‘fully supported the objections listed by Spreyton Parish Council’.

COMMITTEE DECISION: To REFUSE the application

Reasons for Refusal:

1.   The proposed wind turbine by reason of its location, scale and movement would harm the significance of the Grade II* listed buildings Combe Farmhouse and Hendicott and Grade II listed buildings Week and Stockhay.  As such the proposal is contrary to policies SP1, SP3, SP17, SP18, SP20 and BE3 of the West Devon Borough Council Core Strategy 2011 and West Devon Local Plan Review 2005 and guidance set out within the NPPF.

2.   The proposed wind turbine by reason of its location, scale and movement with existing turbines and the proposed turbines at Denbrook would cause detrimental cumulative impact upon the visual amenity of the surrounding landscape contrary to policies SP1, SP3, SP17, SP20 & NE10 of the West Devon Borough Council Core Strategy 2011 and West Devon Local Plan Review 2005 and guidance set out within the NPPF.

3.   The proposed wind turbine, by reason of its siting and scale would introduce a discordant feature into this tranquil rural landscape leading to an adverse impact upon the landscape character of the area. The proposal is therefore considered to be contrary to policies SP1, SP3, SP17, SP20 & NE10 of the West Devon Borough Council Core Strategy 2011 and West Devon Local Plan Review 2005 and guidance set out within the NPPF.

4.   It has not been adequately demonstrated that the planning impacts to the landscape and upon the heritage assets in the locality identified by the affected local communities have been fully addressed and therefore a planning judgment has been made by the Local Planning Authority that the proposed wind turbine does not have community backing which is contrary to the written Ministerial Statement released on the 18th June 2015 from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and paragraph 14 of the Planning Practice Guidance.

Key issues for consideration:

The main issues for consideration include the principle of development, pre-application consultation process, impact upon landscape character, visual and cumulative impact; impact upon amenity of nearby residents with regard to visual impact, noise/amplitude modulation & shadow flicker; heritage; highway  ...  view the full minutes text for item *P&L.20

*P&L 21         

The Committee received and noted the updated list of Planning Appeals.