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Site
The site represents the residential curtilage of Ynnyd Y Ghiallyn, Ballaghennie Road, Bride, which is a newly constructed two storey dwelling which is located on the western side of the Ballaghennie Road and south of the Ayres Visitor Centre.
Land Use Zoning
The application site is within an area recognised as being an area of 'White Land', under the Isle of Man Development Plan Order 1982. The site is not within a Conservation Area; but is within an area zoned as High Landscape or Coastal Value and Scenic Significance
Planning History
There are no previous planning applications which are considered relevant in the assessment and determination of this application.
The proposal seeks approval for the erection of wind turbine. The turbine column would have a height of 7.8 metres and the actually turbine unit having a height of 1.6 metres. The unit would be located approximately 112 metres northwest of the dwelling and approximately 140 metres west from the Ballaghennie Road.
The Wildlife \& Conservation Officer (DAFF) comments to the application which can be summarised as; does not object to the application but strongly recommends a bat survey be undertaken to the site to determine whether the proposed turbine would pose a threat to bats.
The Authority has received no privately written representations objecting to the application.
There are two issues with the application, firstly the impact upon the surrounding landscape and second the potential impact upon the bats (protected species) in the area.
Regarding the visual impact, when viewing the site from the south, the site is very well screened from the main public highway the A10 road, due to the contours of the land, a number of mature hedgerows and trees between the road and the application site and due to the large distance the application site is away from the A10 road (approximately 600 metres). Also when travelling from the A10 road along the Ballaghennie Road towards the Ayres Visitor Centre, the site is very well screened and the proposal would not very visible, when travelling in that direction.
The only situation when the proposal would be visible would be from Ballaghennie Road, when travelling from the Ayres Visitor Centre towards the A10 road. However, as the unit would not be positioned on the top of the slope, but on the side; 5 / 6 metre high hedgerows run along the top of the slope; the distance from the Ballaghennie Road (closest point being 140 metres), and as the views of the unit would only be seen fleetingly due to the above and due to the boundary treatments which runs along the boundaries of the Ballaghennie Road, it is considered the proposal would not have a significant adverse impact to the detriment of the visual appearance of the surrounding countryside.
Regarding the impact upon the bats in the area, following comments from the Wildlife \& Conservation Officer (DAFF), the applicant has been in contact with the Manx Bat Group who have visited the site and made a recommendation. Their recommendations state that the operation of the turbine should be limited to periods when bats are inactive "during winter hibernation, say from mid October to mid March" and "during hours of daylight in summer, say from 1 / 2 hour before sunset to 1 / 2 hour after dawn from mid March to mid October." The applicant is happy for the turbine to operate in accordance with the recommendations.
For these reasons the proposal would be appropriate in this location and therefore my recommendation is for an approval.
It is considered that the following meet the criteria of Government Circular 1/06 and should be afforded interested party status:
Highways Division Bride Parish Commissioners The Wildlife \& Conservation Officer (DAFF)
Recommended Decision: Permitted
Date of Recommendation: 13.08.2008
The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.
This approval relates to wind turbine the as proposed in the submitted documents and drawings 00773/1, 00773/2 and 00773/3 received on 16th April and 30th July 2008.
The proposed wind turbine is required to cease operation 1 / 2 hour before sunset to 1 / 2 hour after dawn from mid March to mid October.
The wind turbine is to be finished with a drab olive green matt colour.
In the event of the wind turbine erected under this approval becoming redundant they must be taken down along with all ancillary infrastructure and be removed from the site within 3 months of the cessation of use and the land restored back to its original use.
I confirm that this decision accords with Government Circular No 44/05 (Delegation of Functions to Director of Planning and Building Control)
Decision Made : Permitted Date : Signed : M. I. McCauley
Director of Planning and Building Control
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