This is the third wind energy scheme to be granted planning approval in Bristol and The Landmark Practice has managed the environmental planning issues for all three:

• Bristol Port Company’s three iconic wind turbines, granted consent in December 2006, now in operation and clearly visible from the M5 motorway
• Planning consent for two 3 mega watt turbines for Bristol City Council, on a disused oil depot on the shores of the Severn Estuary, granted consent in January 2009
• Planning consent for four 3 mega watt turbines for Wessex Water, granted in March 2009, to be built at the sewage works beside the M49

Collectively, these nine wind turbines will generate the same output of a moderately sized wind farm, and will make a significant contribution to the South West Region’s renewable energy targets. At a local scale, they will generate well over 50% of the former Avon’s entire 2010 renewable target.

Dr Mark Wright, Chairman of the BCC North Area Planning Committee, commented:

“Avonmouth is an area with excellent wind resource and also significant power demand. It makes obvious sense to put these two together in the most obvious way by installing wind power turbines. The approved plans in this regard are welcome and I look forward to future sets of plans being brought forward.”

When assessing the viability of the latest Avonmouth wind power project, Wessex Water and The Landmark Practice faced twin challenges:

• Proximity to a large urban population
• Proximity to the internationally important bird protection area of the Severn Estuary.

The Landmark Practice’s detailed environmental assessment of potential impacts proved that the wind turbines could be accommodated without damage to nature conservation interests. Careful attention was paid to the precise siting of the turbines to ensure that the effect on wildlife is mitigated. Public consultation identified considerable public support for wind turbines in the Bristol area.

Bernice Roberts, Principal Environmental Planner at The Landmark Practice commented that:

“Opposition to wind turbines usually stems from fear of the unknown, or of change. To allay such fears, it is essential that the environmental assessments we carry out to inform these schemes are thorough, accurate and robust. This helps the planning authority to reach a properly informed and confident decision.”

Bristol City Council’s North Area Planning Committee granted unanimous approval to the Wessex Water wind power project on 26 March.

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The Landmark Practice has considerable experience in preparing planning applications for wind turbine schemes and associated Environmental Impact Assesment (EIA) and reports to inform Appropriate Assessments (AA). In 2005 Landmark led the successful planning application for the Bristol Port Company’s 3 x 3MW wind turbine scheme (which is now operational at Avonmouth Docks, adjacent to the Severn Estuary European site), the first in the South West to be granted without recourse to appeal.

The Landmark Practice environmental planning team was also responsible for coordinating the EIAs for the Bristol City Council Energy Management Unit Avonmouth Wind Power Project (2 x 3MW turbines, consent granted by unanimous committee vote in January 2009) and the Wessex Water Avonmouth Wind Power Project (4 x 3MW turbines), which is currently awaiting determination.

The application scheme was led and project managed by The Landmark Practice environmental planning department, which also undertook the project EIA. Planning support for the team was provided by GVA Grimley.

In 2005 Landmark led the successful planning application for the Bristol Port Company’s three wind turbine scheme, the first in the South West to be granted without recourse to appeal, and is also currently working for Wessex Water’s wind turbine development team.

The Bristol City Council scheme encountered similar development constraints to that faced by Bristol Port. The site, a disused oil storage plant, is on the shore of the Severn Estuary Special Protection Area and within radar visibility of Bristol Filton Airfield. Mitigation measures to avoid affecting the bird interest of the Severn Estuary and to ensure no loss of visibility for aircraft radar are therefore secured by planning conditions.

To view the webcast of the Planning Committee Meeting click here

(Forward to index point 01:43:40 for the Committee decision)