CROOK HILL WIND FARM - Rossendale

CROOK HILL WIND FARM

SECTION 73 APPLICATION ROSSENDALE BOROUGH COUNCIL SUPPLEMENTARY

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION TO THE 2011 ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT

Crook Hill Properties Ltd

Wind Prospect Ltd Sutton House Dovenby Hall Estate Cockermouth Cumbria CA13 0PN T: 01900 898100 www.windprospect.com

http://www.pdfcomplete.com/cms/hppl/tabid/108/Default.aspx?r=q8b3uige22

CROOK HILL ENVr050 SECTION 73 APPLICATION ROSSENDALE BOROUGH COUNCIL SUPPLEMENTARY ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION TO THE 2011 ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT

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Document History Doc Name Rev Details Author Checked Approved WPENVr050 A Initial Issue J Wynne C Aimers C Aimers

WPENVr050 B Revisions addressing councils comments J Wynne C Aimers C Aimers

File name P:\_Site Development\Environmental\Crook Hill\Planning\Planning Submission\Section 73\WPENVr050 - Section 73.docx



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Confidentiality This document contains proprietary and confidential information, which is provided on a commercial in confidence basis. It may not be reproduced or provided in any manner to any third party without the consent of Wind Prospect. © Copyright Wind Prospect 2013 This work and the information contained in it are the copyright of Wind Prospect. No part of this document may be reprinted or reproduced without the consent of Wind Prospect. Addressee The contents of this report are for the exclusive use of the Client. If other parties choose to rely on the contents of this report they do so at their own risk. Disclaimer Wind Prospect has performed the consultancy services as described in this report in accordance with a standard of best practice available within the industry. Wind Prospect do not make any representations or warranty, expressed or otherwise as to the accuracy or completeness of the source data used in this report, and nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied upon, as a promise or representation, whether as to the past or the future in respect of that source data. This document has been prepared by

Julie Wynne MA BA (Hons) AIEMA Environmental Project Manager Wind Prospect Ltd This report has been checked by

Colin Aimers BEng Hons CEng MICE CEnv General Manager Environmental Services Wind Prospect Ltd This report has been authorised by

Colin Aimers BEng Hons CEng MICE CEnv General Manager Environmental Services



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Wind Prospect Ltd

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................... 5

2. BASELINE (2011 ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT) .................................................................................................. 7

3. THE PROPOSED MODIFICATION ........................................................................................................................... 8

4. CHANGE OF WORKS AT LANDGATE ...................................................................................................................... 9

5. EFFECTS ................................................................................................................................................................ 9

6. MITIGATION ....................................................................................................................................................... 10

7. RESIDUAL EFFECTS ............................................................................................................................................. 10

8. CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................................................... 10

APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................................................... 11

APPENDIX A DRAWINGS .......................................................................................................................................... 11

APPENDIX B TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN ............................................................................................................. 12

APPENDIX C CORRESPONDENCE .............................................................................................................................. 13



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1. INTRODUCTION Wind Prospect Limited (WPL) has been commissioned by Crook Hill Properties Limited (CPL) to undertake an application for an amendment to Condition 31 of Planning Consent (ref 2011/0030) granted by Rossendale Borough Council (RBC) for the Crook Hill Wind Farm located on land at Crook Hill, Reddyshore Scout Gate Lane, Todmorden. This supporting document presents evidence and information to support this application.

CPL is applying for a minor material amendment as defined in Greater Flexibility for Planning Permissions (DCLG November 2009) under section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The existing Planning Consent (ref 2011/0030) was deemed to be Schedule 2 Development as defined under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999.

A strip of land adjacent to the A671 and locally called Landgate is under the ownership by RBC. RBC have requested that the project owners, CPL amend the Abnormal Indivisible Load Vehicles (AILV) delivery route proposed in the Planning Application and Environmental Impact Assessment so that that AILV loads approach the site from the south in order to cross the aforementioned land. This change in the access route was discussed and agreed in a full RBC meeting, open to the public held on the 11th July 2012.

RBC has advised CPL in email correspondence dated 30/05/2013 that an amendment to Condition 31 of the planning consent is required, as the revised access arrangements present a significant change from the engineering works currently at the Landgate junction. RBC have deemed that the change is significant and require a departure from the scheme set out on plans PAF-CHHQ-3 and PAF-CHHQ-4 referenced in Condition 31 detailed below;

Condition 31

The development shall be carried out in accordance with the following drawings, unless otherwise required by the conditions above or first agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Drawing Reference

Site Location PAF-CHHQ-1

Site Layout PAF-CHHQ-2

Planning Application Map - Key Plan Version 4

Planning Application Map - Plan A Version 4 A671-Landgate Temporary Junction Improvements PAF-CHHQ-3 A671-Landgate Temporary Junction Improvements PAF-CHHQ-4

Site Entrance Junction Improvement PAF-CHHQ-5

Typical Road Cross Sections 1 of 2 PAF-CHHQ-6 Typical Road Cross Sections 2 of 2 PAF-CHHQ-7

Typical Cable Trench & Drainage Details PAF-CHHQ-8

Typical Culvert Details PAF-CHHQ-9

Typical Service Crossing Detail PAF-CHHQ-10



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Typical Cattle Grid PAF-CHHQ11 Typical Construction Compound PAF-CHHQ18 Indicative Grid Connection Options Fig 5-1

Landgate Quarry Restoration 406-03-00



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2. BASELINE (2011 ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT) In the Environmental Statement (ES), all the AILV approach Landgate along the A671 from the north. The route from the north involves a considerable amount of remedial works at Landgate to existing infrastructure at its junction w

and associated landscape works. Figure 5.3.1: A671 Landgate Temporary Junction Improvements in Appendix A, details the extents of the proposed works at the junction. The paragraphs detailed below are taken from the approved 2011 Environmental Statement produced by Dulas ReSolutions for and on behalf of CPL. The following paragraphs detail the work required at Landgate and highlight the potential effects. 5.3.2.27 In order to give adequate clearance and temporary road widening for the wind turbine blade delivery vehicles, the grass and rock face to the east of the A671 and south of Landgate will be cut back and re-profiled. The rock face will be cut back by up to approximately 14m. The re-profiling of the rock face will be sympathetic to its current appearance. The footway will be permanently lowered with drop kerbs along the affected length of the A671 and Landgate. The footway construction will be upgraded to accept the loadings from the delivery vehicles and buried services will be protected or diverted by agreement with the utility companies. The grassed area will be removed; the ground lowered and compacted stone will be placed to provide a temporary running surface for the abnormal delivery vehicles. 5.4.2.3 The required junction improvement of the A671 and Landgate in Shawforth will see the re-profiling of an existing rock face with the existing face being cut back by up to 14m in a southerly direction to allow clearance for the wind turbine blade delivery vehicles. Removal of the rock is likely to take up to 3 weeks and it is possible that a mechanical breaker or grinding machinery will be required which will create noise and dust. 5.5.3.5 The rock removal works at the junction of the A671 and Landgate in Shawforth may create noise and dust. At detailed design stage swept path analysis modelling the final turbine and delivery vehicle types will be used to minimise the area required for the delivery vehicles and hence the volume of rock to be removed. During construction, spraying a screening the works will reduce dust significantly. Noise may be reduced by selection of suitable plant and by sound screens if necessary.



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3. THE PROPOSED MODIFICATION Following discussions with Highways Engineers of Rochdale Metropolitan Borough council and CPL, an access review was conducted by WPL to identify AILV routes from the south through Rochdale and approaches to Landgate from the south. A route was identified, and surveys and analysis confirmed

WPENGd4657 Rev B in Appendix A, details the new requirements for remedial works at the junction of Landgate and the A671. This change in route has negated the requirement for the cutting back of the rock face at Landgate. As a result of this change, WPL propose the following re-wording of the condition; The development shall be carried out in accordance with the following drawings, unless otherwise required by the conditions above or first agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Drawing Reference

Site Location PAF-CHHQ-1

Site Layout PAF-CHHQ-2

Planning Application Map - Key Plan Version 4

Planning Application Map - Plan A Version 4 A671/Landgate Junction Proposed Highways Modifications WPENGd4657 Rev B Site Entrance Junction Improvement PAF-CHHQ-5

Typical Road Cross Sections 1 of 2 PAF-CHHQ-6 Typical Road Cross Sections 2 of 2 PAF-CHHQ-7

Typical Cable Trench & Drainage Details PAF-CHHQ-8

Typical Culvert Details PAF-CHHQ-9

Typical Service Crossing Detail PAF-CHHQ-10

Typical Cattle Grid PAF-CHHQ11 Typical Construction Compound PAF-CHHQ18 Indicative Grid Connection Options Fig 5-1

Landgate Quarry Restoration 406-03-00



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4. CHANGE OF WORKS AT LANDGATE The new access arrangement as detailed at WPENGd4657 Rev B means that there will be no need to cut back the rock face. However, improvement works are still required to enable access by AILVs. These are limited to the excavation and lowering of the grassed area and the removal of a small number of trees. A small wall surrounding the grassed area will also be removed temporarily. Landscaping works after completion of the deliveries would be required however these are minimal and would have little or no effect on the local residents, pedestrians or motorists. A proposal for the landscaping activities is included within supporting information needed for Condition 29 of the Planning Consent.

5. EFFECTS As a result of the proposed changes to the works at the Landgate junction, there will be a reduced impact and disruption to local residents, pedestrians, and motorists, due to the rock face not being cut. This would be in the form of road construction activities, noise, dust and vibrations from the rock cutting operations. In respect of the loss of quarried stone from the cliff-face near the Landgate Junction, we consider that the proposed working of Middle Hill Quarry and the balance of cut and fill operations on the site, would yield sufficient stone for the development as proposed within the EIA without the need for the 3,000 cubic metres of stone generated by cutting-back of the cliff-face near the Landgate junction.

letter in Appendix C clarifies the volume of stone required for the development, and the volume of stone estimated to be available in Middle Hill Quarry and also the quality of of the stone available, subject to further site investigations.

A Traffic Management and Condition Monitoring Plan (WPENGr740 Rev B) has been produced to discharge planning condition 5 of planning consent 2011/0030. This document proposes that AILVs access the site from the south via the following route; M62 A6193 A640 A671 Land Gate Site The content of the Environmental Statement (ES) suggested that AILVs would access the site via the following route from the North; 3.3.4.1 All equipment, plant and materials would be able to access the proposed Crook Hill Wind Farm site via Junction 21 of the M62 and continuing on to the A640, A664 and onto the A58 through towards Calderbrook. Road modifications and temporary removal of street furniture would be required to ensure adequate access conditions. Sections 5.3.4.37-5.3.4.39 on page 78 of the ES highlights the possible impacts of wind farm traffic on the local highway network. The impact is considered to be negligible during a normal 6 day working week and moderate during the period when concrete is being delivered for the WTG bases. As the original assessment for the concrete deliveries was based upon concrete deliveries accessing the site from south (5.3.4.38), the change in vehicle routing for AILVs is considered to have a negligible impact. Additionally, the change in route addresses Lancashire County Councils concerns that junctions to the north are at full capacity during peak times. Lancashire County Council has been consulted on document WPENGr740 Rev B and has stated that they have no concerns (Appendix C). Additionally, Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council has formally discharged the condition (Appendix C). Overall it is considered that there will be little or no effect on residential amenity as AILV deliveries to the site will be temporary, over a 2 month period, and will not affect residents inside their



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homes. AILVs travelling to the site will be no different from other Heavy Goods Vehicles that currently use road and the effects on traffic will be limited because AILV deliveries will take place outside peak times or a night when the roads will be less busy. Overall, the revisions to the scheme will reduce the impact of the approved scheme, creating fewer disturbances for local residents and motorists as well as reducing any landscape and visual, noise and ecological impacts identified in the 2011 Environmental Statement. This is viewed as a significant beneficial effect.

6. MITIGATION As a result of the proposed changes, no mitigation will be required to remedy any of the impacts caused by the rock face cut, as this will no longer be taking place. However, mitigation will be put in place for the improvement works described in section 4 and this will be detailed in the Construction Method Statement (CMS) which will be produced for Condition 6 of the Planning Consent. The CMS will ensure that good working practices are followed for all works on site alongside proposed communications for members of the public to raise concerns and working details of the proposed project arrangements.

7. RESIDUAL EFFECTS The residual effects of the works required to enable access as detailed on WPENGd4657 Rev B will be less then as per the residual effects as set out in the 2011 Environmental Statement as the rockface will remain in situ.

8. CONCLUSION The new access arrangements as detailed in WPENGd4657 Rev B will provide a significant beneficial effect when compared with the residual impacts of the 2011 Environmental Statement. This means there will be fewer disturbances for local residents.



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APPENDICES

APPENDIX A DRAWINGS

A671-Landgate Temporary Junction Improvements PAF-CHHQ-3 A671-Landgate Temporary Junction Improvements PAF-CHHQ-4

A671/Landgate Junction Proposed Highways Modifications WPENGd4657 Rev B





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CROOK HILL WIND FARM - Rossendale