Minutes:
Grid Ref: E: 283050 N: 211313
Valid Date: 30-03-21
Community Council: Tawe-Uchaf Community Council
Applicant: The Welsh Ministers
Location: Land at And Surrounding Nant Helen Open Cast Coal Site, Powys And, Onllwyn Distribution Centre, Neath Port Talbot
Proposal: Development of a Global Centre of Rail Excellence, comprising of two test tracks of loop configuration being an electrified high speed rolling stock test track of 6.9km in length and an electrified low speed infrastructure test track of 4.5km, with overhead line equipment (OLE) and dual platform station test environment; together with operations and control offices (including staff accommodation and welfare), shunter cabins (2 no.), research and development, education and training, rolling stock storage sidings and maintenance/cleaning/decommissioning facilities; associated, drainage, internal vehicular accesses, branch line rail connection, staff and visitor car parking, lighting, electrical infrastructure (including substations and lineside shore supplies and transformers), fencing (perimeter security, acoustic and stock proof), land reformation and hard and soft landscaping, together with demolition of existing buildings/structures (cross-boundary application - see Neath Port Talbot Application ref P2021/0327
Application Type: Outline planning
The Principal Planning Officer advised the Committee that Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council had approved the application, in respect of the part of the development in its area, at its meeting earlier in the week. The Principal Planning Officer therefore advised that the application could therefore be seen as an extension to that approved use under Policy E2 of the Local Development Plan.
County Councillor D Thomas spoke as the local representative.
Mrs S Pyart spoke against the application.
Mr S Jones, spoke on behalf of the applicant and Ms E Reynish spoke as the agent.
The Principal Planning Officer advised that if the Committee was minded to approve the application as recommended by officers, that determination be delegated to the Professional Lead - Planning in consultation with the Chair to allow for the expiration of the press notice on 30 July 2021.
In response to questions regarding noise from the braking of trains the Professional Lead Environmental Health advised that it was her understanding that the noise levels of the trains when braking was part of the noise assessment and taken into consideration when setting the conditions. The Professional Lead - Countryside Access & Recreation, in response to a question regarding access to the common land in the middle of the loop of the track, advised that access would be addressed through the common lands strategy.
Comments were made that it was essential that the proposed community liaison group, the local authority and other bodies would be properly resourced to ensure that the 61 conditions could be monitored. It was noted that the local member and objector had advised that conditions relating to the previous application regarding the site in respect of land drainage had not yet been met.
Questions were asked regarding the drainage of the site. The SAB and Environmental Health Control Manager, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council advised that conditions were recommended in respect of land drainage and that an application for SAB approval was also required. This would look at the drainage strategy for the whole site. He advised that this was at the early stage of design and more details would be considered as part of the SAB application. In addition to the SAB, the site would also need to comply with Section 23 of the Land Drainage Act. He advised that the two local authorities were looking for a betterment in terms of the drainage and how it preforms within the site. The Principal Planning Officer also advised that issues outside of the SAB process were covered by conditions, for example regarding culverts and these would be considered at reserved matters and could be called in by the local member for consideration by the Committee.
Issues were raised about the access to the site via the local road network and the rail heads. The Principal Planning Officer advised that road access had been considered and these were seen as being adequate. She also advised that if the Committee were minded to approve the application, conditions were recommended which required the ongoing monitoring of traffic to the site for the first five years of operation. She advised that Network Rail had been consulted and had no objections to the scheme. She also advised that in respect of the rail network there might be opportunities to upgrade the current network which would benefit the local community. Concerns were raised in respect of any future enforcement notice and on what organisation would a notice be served. The Professional Lead - Planning advised that if required an enforcement notice would be served on the owner of the site. He stated however, it was hoped that the proposed community liaison group would be able to resolve issues prior to the need for an enforcement notice.
It was noted that it was proposed to put 3 metre acoustic fencing on the embankments to mitigate noise levels. Comment was made about the impact of this fencing on the daylight available to Caehopkin, as this was an issue raised when the application regarding the embankments was being considered. The Principal Planning Officer stated that this had been assessed and based on the indicative plans there was no loss of light. However, the detail and placement of the fencing would be considered at reserved matters. In response to questions regarding the impact of phosphates on the watercourse, the Principal Planning Officer advised that the application site was outside the phosphate sensitive area of a River SAC.
It was moved and duly seconded to approve the application as recommended by the officer and that determination be delegated to the Professional Lead - Planning in consultation with the Chair to allow for the expiration of the press notice on 30 July 2021
RESOLVED: |
Reason for decision: |
that the Committee is minded to approve the application, subject to the conditions set out in the report which is filed with the signed minutes and that determination be delegated to the Professional Lead - Planning in consultation with the Chair to allow for the expiration of the press notice on 30 July 2021. |
As officer’s recommendation as set out in the report which is filed with the signed minutes. |
County Councillor E Vaughan left the meeting having declared an interest in the next application.
Supporting documents: