Weekly planning news
Planning news - 15 June 2023
Views sought on electricity upgrade project in Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire
National Grid is consulting with communities in the East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire on proposals for a new electricity power line project.
The project is intended to help deliver the UK's energy security strategy and net zero targets, said National Grid. Any application would be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) under the Planning Act 2008.
With electricity generation in the UK changing, including a transition towards cleaner energy from wind farms, National Grid is making changes to the network of overhead lines, pylons, cables and other infrastructure that transports electricity around the country.
It says power lines between the North and the Midlands do not have sufficient capacity to accommodate the increased power flows from renewable electricity. Plans include approximately 90 kilometres of new 400,000 volt (400kV) overhead power line, between new substations at Creyke Beck and High Marnham, to increase the capacity of the network.
According to National Grid, the proposed corridor for the new line runs close to an existing overhead power line for much of the route.
Rachel Tullis, project director for National Grid, said: “The government’s net zero target means an increase in new renewable electricity generation such as wind and solar power.
“We’re proposing new infrastructure that will connect this green energy from areas around the Humber and in the North Sea to the grid and allow clean electricity to power homes and businesses across the Midlands and to the whole country, boosting our home-grown energy security and progress towards net zero.
“As we continue to develop our plans, we want to work with local communities and organisations to ensure local employment, skills and opportunities for local businesses are delivered in the East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire.
“This consultation launch is the beginning of our engagement with communities and stakeholders along the proposed route corridor and we encourage people to share their views.”
This consultation gives local communities the first opportunity to look at the proposals, with the project still in the early stages.
The proposals follow the publication last year of National Grid Electricity System Operator’s Pathway to 2030 Holistic Network Design1. It established the onshore and offshore electricity transmission network reinforcements required to meet government net zero targets and included this project.
The consultation closes on 27 July. More information can be found on the National Grid website.2
7 June 2023
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Leeds Bradford Airport in planning condition breach
Leeds Bradford Airport has breached a planning condition restricting night-time movements, exceeding the limits by 25 per cent over the summer of 2022.
Leeds City Council began investigating the allegations following a complaint in October 2022. On 6 June 2023, it released a statement saying that the airport had been found to be in breach of the conditions.
During the 2022 summer season, there were 3,667 night-time movements, exceeding the cap by 747 movements. Leeds Bradford Airport has accepted the breach of condition notice served by the council and a revised monitoring framework has been established by the airport. The council will review this each month.
If the conditions set out in the 2007 planning consent continue to be breached, the council has the option to take further steps such as issuing an enforcement notice.
Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for sustainable development and infrastructure, said: “Leeds City Council understands the public concerns which have been raised regarding night-time flight movements and have investigated this matter thoroughly, in accordance with our established procedures.
“This has concluded that a breach has occurred, leading to a formal notice being served on Leeds Bradford Airport, which they have accepted. The airport has since put in place measures to prevent future instances, which will be subject to regular monitoring to ensure continued compliance to planning conditions.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and if required the council has many further options it can pursue including, but not limited to, an enforcement notice. It is also important to note that a breach of condition notice offers the most expedient response to resolve this issue for the people of Leeds, with no right of appeal from Leeds Bradford Airport.
“If the breach of condition notice is not complied with this can escalate into summary prosecution that can be brought in the Magistrates’ Court for the offence of contravening a breach of condition notice.”
7 June 2023
Ben Gosling, The Planner
Designation process for new national park in Wales gears up
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has been commissioned by the Welsh Government to evaluate the case for the first new national park in Wales in almost 70 years.
The area being considered for national park status centres on the existing Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the northeast of the country.
NRW has established a team to lead on the designation, with their work including data and evidence gathering, and engagement with the local communities and other key stakeholders.
A decision on the park's designation is expected within the next three years.
Ash Pearce, project manager for the initiative, said: “NRW is the designating authority in Wales and must be satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to designate a new national park.
“There is a statutory process to follow which was last completed in the 1950s and took around a decade. This time we also need to take account of new information and new legislation, so we are incorporating principles of Sustainable Management of Natural Resources3 into the procedure.
“With government funding, a strong team and new technology, we aim to complete the process within the existing Senedd term [by 2026]. Once this is done, and if the evidence supports a designation, then a Designation Order will be submitted to the Welsh Government.
“Ministers will need to consider this and decide whether to confirm, refuse or vary the order. If it’s confirmed in 2026, the government will then establish Wales’s fourth national park and the first in Wales for nearly 70 years,” he said.
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park is the newest of the three existing Welsh national parks, having its designation confirmed on 17 April 1957. Eryri (Snowdonia) was the first national park in Wales, designated on 18 October 1951, followed by Pembrokeshire Coast National park on 12 February 1952.
Roger Milne, The Planner
9 June 2023
Consultation launched over plans for Newcastle hotel
Views are being sought from the public on plans for a luxury hotel in Newcastle’s Quayside area.
Planning consultancy Lichfields is undertaking the consultation on the proposal by Dakota Hotels to convert the currently vacant St Ann’s Wharf at 112 Quayside into a boutique-style 115 bedroomed hotel.
Located on the opposite bank to The Baltic, the scheme could also feature a ground floor bar and grill area. Minor alterations to the building’s façade fronting the Quayside feature as part of the plans.
Alex Kennedy, senior planner at the Lichfields Newcastle office, said the hotel would generate a £1.5 million local economic uplift. “This is another major regeneration project that represents a significant contribution to the vitality and vibrancy of an important economic sector," he continued.
“Local residents, businesses and stakeholders are being consulted to showcase the many opportunities and benefits the investment will bring to Newcastle and the wider region.”
It is expected that a planning application will be submitted this summer to Newcastle City Council.
A digital consultation can be found here4. It closes on 12 June.
8 June 2023
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Student scheme approved in Manchester
Manchester City Council's planning and highways committee has granted planning permission for a student scheme comprising more than 1,000 beds.
Real estate company Dominus is behind the scheme, which will be located at One Medlock Street, and will deliver it alongside partner Whitbread.
Manchester City Council’s recently-published PBSA Study identifies the development as one of the key named sites committed to meeting the city’s needs for student beds.
Dominus explained that the two universities, University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, attract around 45,000 and 36,000 students a year respectively, but there are just 26,830 professionally managed student beds in Manchester available. With the number of students predicted to grow by 3.2 per cent each year, up to 14,772 additional students will have to rent privately, affecting the rental market.
The development includes two buildings of 13 and 37 storeys, which will replace a Premier Inn hotel. It also features office space with room for 2,200 jobs, a landscaped pocket park and rain garden, and “green streets” connecting the site to the wider First Street regeneration area. The scheme is expected to support 475 jobs and provide a £198 million productivity boost to the local area during construction.
Jay Ahluwalia, principal director at Dominus Real Estate, said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with Whitbread to create a mixed-use scheme that will provide an attractive, sustainable and well-connected hub for work, study and living. Our aim is to provide a huge boost to Manchester’s Southern Gateway, contributing to the continued regeneration of the First Street area.
“Our One Medlock Street scheme will bring high-quality and flexible grade A offices, much-needed student housing at a location supported by the city council and a better street-level experience for all."
The plans were designed by Jon Matthews Architects.
8 June 2023
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Landowner and contractor fined over felling of nearly 300 protected trees
A landowner and contractor in Enfield have been ordered by a judge to pay in excess of £255,000 after they illegally felled more than 270 protected trees.
Ali Matur, owner of the land at the Clay Hill conservation area has been fined £73,700 and must pay £100,000 in confiscation monies. Robert Bush and Bush Wheeler Services Limited as a company were fined £2,177 each, as well as £5,200 in confiscation fees.
The decision was handed down at Wood Green Crown Court on 26 May 2023.
The defendants must also pay Enfield Council’s costs of £72,083.
Members of the public reported the illegal activity in 2019, leading to a “lengthy” investigation and prosecution by the council’s planning enforcement officers.
The council has served a Tree Replacement Notice, requiring the replanting of 284 trees including sweet chestnut, hornbeam, silver birch, field maple, cherry, scots pines, Corsican, pine and Norway Spruce. This is subject to an appeal by Matur.
7 June 2023
Ben Gosling, The Planner
- https://www.nationalgrideso.com/future-energy/pathway-2030-holistic-network-design
- https://www.nationalgrid.com/electricity-transmission/network-and-infrastructure/infrastructure-projects/north-humber-to-high-marnham
- https://www.gov.wales/sustainable-management-natural-resources-guide
- https://www.dakotanewcastle.com/
