Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair outlined the procedure to be followed at the meeting

Apologies were received from Councillors Dodd, Swinbank and Watson.

The Minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee held on Tuesday 8 June 2021, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee held on Tuesday 8 June 2021, as circulated, be agreed as true record and signed by the Chair.

Unless already entered in the Council’s Register of Members’ interests, members are required to disclose any personal interest (which includes any disclosable pecuniary interest) they may have in any of the items included on the agenda for the meeting in accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council on 4 July 2012, and are reminded that if they have any personal interests of a prejudicial nature (as defined under paragraph 17 of the Code Conduct) they must not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must leave the room. NB Any member needing clarification must contact the monitoring officer by email at monitoringofficer@northumberland.gov.uk. Please refer to the guidance on disclosures at the rear of this agenda letter.

Councillor Reid advised that he had a conflict of interests and withdrew from the meeting.   Councillors Flux stated that he was a member of Cramlington Town Council who had been consulted on the application, however he had taken no part in any discussion.  Councillor Foster stated that she was a member of Choppington Parish Council who had advised of their strong support for the application, however she had taken no part in any discussion. 

To request the committee to decide the planning applications attached to this report using the powers delegated to it. 

Please note that printed letters of objection/support are no longer circulated with the agenda but are available on the Council’s website at  http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Planning.aspx

The report requested the Committee to decide the planning applications attached to the report using the powers delegated to it.  Members were reminded of the principles which should govern their consideration of the applications, the procedure for handling representations, the requirement of conditions and the need for justifiable reasons for the granting of permission or refusal of planning applications.

The Chair acknowledged the huge amount of work undertaken by Officers in bringing this application to Committee and stated he hoped that the site visit and information provided would assist Members to make an informed decision.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

Erection of battery manufacturing plant with ancillary offices, together with associated development and infrastructure works (including site preparation works, ground modelling, drainage, landscaping, vehicular assess, cycle and pedestrian access, parking provision, substation and other associated works)

Land at Former Power Station Site on Northern Side of Cambois, Cambois, Northumberland

Erection of battery manufacturing plant with ancillary offices, together with associated development and infrastructure works (including site preparation works, ground modelling, drainage, landscaping, vehicular assess, cycle and pedestrian access, parking provision, substation and other associated works) 

Land at Former Power Station Site on Northern Side of Cambois, Cambois, Northumberland 

J Murphy, South East Area DM Area Manager introduced the application to the Committee with the aid of a power point presentation. It was confirmed that all Members had received and read the update which had been circulated by email earlier that day, which had also been uploaded to the Council’s website. 

R Murfin, Director of Planning informed the Committee of the way in which the application had been assessed by officers, the alignment with both the existing and emerging development plan and the reasonableness of the significant weight which could be given to the localised and wider economic benefits of the application.

He advised that as  the proposal was also subject to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations, Members should also consider the extent to which the application was supported by a rigorous, robust and up to date information in the Environmental Statement (ES).  He went on to describe how the ES had;

·       Been used to inform the evaluation of the proposal and how a “triangulation exercise” had taken place with consultees and statutory consultees in order to verify the conclusions set out the ES.

·       Subject to appropriate public consultation, including on the receipt of additional information

·       Informed the design and evaluation of mitigation and the formulation of conditions and legal agreements to secure such

R Murfin then drew Members attention to the specific sections of the officer report which addressed the suitability of the ES and confirmed that, for all the reasons set out and described, that it was his advice that the EIA Regulations had be fully and properly complied with.

D Feige, Environment and Design Team Manager, further advised of the significant important ecological considerations in the EIA in respect of this large site which was in proximity to the coast and a range of different habitats and was important to specific bird species.  He confirmed that while a certain amount of mitigation could be provided on site, as the development was so large, it had also been necessary to identify off site provision for the remainder.  The “Potland Burn” site had been agreed with Natural England as being well-suited for habitat creation and the level of net gain was over and above what was commensurate with the loss on site. Defra’s biodiversity net gain metric had been used to calculate the area of land required, to ensure there was both rigour and transparency to the process. 

Guy Wakefield, Agent on behalf of the applicant addressed the Committee speaking in support of the application.  His comments included the following:-

·       He thanked officers for their hard work and professionalism in dealing with this application. He also thanked the Town and Parish Councils who had been keen to engage,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

Provision of temporary substations and associated cabling for the construction of the proposed Gigaplant (Application reference 21/00818/FULES)

Land East of Sleekburn Business Centre, West Sleekburn, Northumberland

Provision of temporary substations and associated cabling for the construction of the proposed Gigaplant (Application Reference 21/000818/FULES)

Land East of Sleekburn  Business Centre, West Sleekburn, Northumberland

J Murphy, South East Area DM Area Manager introduced the application to the Committee with the aid of a power point presentation.  Attention was drawn to the additional condition which was proposed and had been circulated on the update emailed to Members of the Committee and uploaded to the Council’s website in advance of the Committee.

Councillor Flux proposed acceptance of the recommendation to approve the application subject to the conditions outlined in the report and additional condition as highlighted above which was seconded by Councillor Stewart.

A vote was taken and it was unanimously

RESOLVED that the application be GRANTED subject to the conditions as outlined in the report with the inclusion of the additional condition as outlined on the additional information circulated.

For Members’ information to report the progress of planning appeals.  This is a monthly report and relates to appeals throughout all 5 Local Area Council Planning Committee areas and covers appeals of Strategic Planning Committee

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

For Members’ information to report the agreement monitoring and collection of s106 contributions in the planning process.  This is a monthly report and relates to agreements throughout Northumberland during the previous monthly period

RESOLVED that the information be noted.