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PUBLIC

COMMITTEE REPORT

Planning Committee 14/11/2013 APPLICATION No. - OT/2013/1765 Description of Development - Prior Approval for design and appearance of proposed switchgear station. Site Address - Substation Abercorn Road Applicant - Keith Fenwick Alliance Planning Ward - Whoberley RECOMMENDATION: Planning Committee are recommended to approve the design and appearance of the switchgear station. INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this report is to consider the above application which seeks prior approval for the design and appearance of a proposed switchgear station. The application site forms part of an existing sub-station accessed from Abercorn Road. The sub-station currently comprises 2no. brick buildings and 2no. transformers. The site is adjoined by allotments and All Saints RC Primary to the north-west. Moor House Nursery to the north-east with Hearsall Common to the south east and west. The site of the switchgear building has recently been cleared and the site enclosed with palisade fencing. The works form part of wider improvement works to the infrastructure network which are being carried out under permitted development rights which include the installation of the switchgear equipment and 2no. new transformers on the site. The building proposed is to house the switchgear equipment which is to be located adjacent to the north-west site boundary with the allotments and All Saints RC Primary. The building will be 36.7m in width, 6.3m in depth and 6.9m in height. The external walls and roof are to be clad with profiled steel which will be colour coated green. There are to be external staircases to the north-east, south-east and south-west elevations. Which will be galvanized steel and lead

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to access doors which will be colour coated green in keeping with the main building. The applicants have submitted information which provides detail on the context for the scheme and the key points can be summarised as follows:

- The works are necessary to ensure Western Power continue to meet obligations in respect of overall capacity and also in respect of resilience in the event of Network failure

- There are four principal sub-stations at Coventry, each serving about a quarter of the City.

- The sub-station at Abercorn Road works in partnership with the Whitley sub-station which is also subject to expansion proposals.

- There is an existing oil insulated underground cable between the two sites; this is being replaced due to its age and potential environmental risk in the event of a cable fault.

- The capacity issue will be addressed by the provision of two new transformers on site, effectively doubling the capacity of the existing sub-station.

- The new switchgear room is necessary as there are numerous local ‘rings’ run from the site. Each circuit needs to be capable of being independently switched on or off such that if there is a fault on any individual ‘ring’, then it can be turned off and repaired without having to switch out the whole sub-station and in doing so losing power to the whole of the quarter of the city served by the Coventry South Sub-station.

- The location, orientation and height of the building are permitted development. The height though is dictated by the scale of the equipment and the standoff distances required to be operated safely.

- A brick built structure is not possible due to the high level of the water table in the area.

- The building proposed is the most suitable in terms of functionality. It will be viewed in conjunction with the new and existing transformers and is to be colour coated green.

- Applicants are willing to undertake additional planting works around the site boundaries to soften the visual impact.

RELEVANT PLANNING HISTORY 11669 – Erection of electricity substation – Approved, 11th July 1956 G/C/30398 – Proposed extension to existing 132/33kV substation – Approved, 19th December 1974 G/C/30398/A – Extension to existing 132/33kV Substation – Approved, 14th December 1977 11669/A - Extension to existing 132kV Substation – Approved, 14th July 1971 G/C/30398/B - Extension to existing 132/33kV Substation – Approved, 28th January 1981 11669/B - Extension to existing 132/33kV sub-Station – approved, 21st March 1984

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DEVELOPMENT PLAN POLICIES: CDP BE2 – Principles of Urban Design CONSULTATION RESPONSES: No consultation responses Site notices were posted on the 27th September 2013. A letter of objection signed by 51 people has been received and it states:

‘We, the undersigned petition for the height to be lowered of both the proposed switchgear & protection & control room buildings, as to the blocking of light and sun which is vital for the growing of crops on the allotments.’

Cllr Bally Singh has objected to the proposed switchgear station on the

basis of its design. It is a large block building that is not in keeping to the beautiful allotments, and its location and design will disrupt light received by the adjoining allotment due to the large shadow it will create.

A local resident has objected as the existing sub-station makes a loud hum which results in disruption at night. The proposals might make the impact of this hum worse thus having a detrimental impact on nearby residents.

APPRAISAL: The main issues in determining the application are Design and Appearance Design and Appearance The proposed building is permitted development under Part 16 Class G(e) which allows for ‘the erection on operational land of the undertaking or building solely for the protection of plant or machinery’ and this allows for a building of up to 15m in height. Any development under this Class though is subject to the following condition; ‘in the case of any Class G(e) development, approval of details of the design and external appearance of the building shall be obtained, before development is begun from - the local planning authority’ Therefore the only matters which can be considered are the design and external appearance of the proposed building. Policy BE2 of the CDP seeks a high quality urban design. The proposed building will be visible from the surrounding area, particularly from Hearsall Common and the surrounding open space. The building is large though it is set back over 130m from Hearsall Common and will be viewed in the context of the existing sub-station and located behind the 2no. new transformers to be installed on the site.

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Therefore whilst the building is large the visual impact of it will be interrupted by trees within the open space and the presence of the new transformers which will be similar in height to the proposed building and existing fencing to the site perimeter. Other options in relation to the design and appearance of the building have been explored, including whether a brick construction would be more aesthetically pleasing. However due to the high water table in the area a brick building is not a viable option. There are examples of similar building in the wider area which are located on the periphery of, and visible from the Common such as ‘Go Outdoors’ and buildings within the Coventry Business Park. On that basis there are not considered to be any other material or colour coating options which would make any significant improvements to the overall appearance of the building. The building will be visible from the surrounding area though due to the context in which it will be viewed the proposed design and appearance are considered acceptable. Additional Issues raised by consultations Other considerations Concerns have been raised in relation to the size and height of the proposed building and its impact on the adjacent allotments. The size, height and location of the proposed building is determined by the functional needs of the extended sub-station and the switchgear plant which it will house. Officers have met with the applicant to discuss the proposals. The applicants have advised that the location of the building is determined by the electric cables coming into / out of the site and there are no other options in relation to location that would work. The extension of the sub-station is necessary to meet increasing demands in the City and ensure Ofgem regulations are met. The need though for the proposed development is not a planning consideration in this case as the works are permitted development. The only matters that can be considered are the design and appearance of the building. The size of the building is dictated by the equipment to be installed and the standard regulations for such installations. The applicants have advised that reductions to the height of the building is not an viable option. Further concerns have been raised with regards to noise from the transformers. The installation of the transformers is permitted development and therefore they cannot be considered under this application.

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Conclusion / Reason for Approval The application is considered acceptable in terms of design and external appearance. The reason for Coventry City Council granting planning permission is because the development is in accordance with: Policy BE2 of the Coventry Development Plan 2001. LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS PROPER OFFICER: Group Manager Planning and Building Control Author: Anne Denby ALL BACKGROUND PAPERS OPEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION at City Services & Development Directorate, Civic Centre 4, Much Park Street and www.coventry.gov.uk Planning Application File: OT/2013/1765 Coventry Development Plan 2001

SITE LOCATION PLANScale 1:2500 Grid Ref: SP 314786

PLAN VIEW Scale: 1:250

SOUTH WEST ELEVATION Scale 1:150

NORTH EAST ELEVATION Scale 1:150

SOUTH EAST ELEVATION Scale 1:150

NORTH WEST ELEVATION Scale 1:150

A

A

C C

B

BD

2500

1800

19735 15960

5215 6336

36695

D

EXTERNAL WALLS & ROOF TO BE CLAD

WITH PLASTISOL COATED PROFILED STEEL

COLOUR: GREEN 14C39 to BS4800

DOORS GRP FACED ALUMINIUM SHEET FOAM

FILLED WITH REMOVABLE TRANSOM

PANEL OVER COLOUR: GREEN 14C39 to BS4800

STAIRS & LANDING INC. HANDRAIL GALV. STEEL

6900

PLAN VIEW Scale 1:50

FRONT ELEVATION D-D Scale 1:100

REAR ELEVATION C-C Scale 1:100

LEFT ELEVATION A-A Scale 1:100

RIGHT ELEVATION B-B Scale 1:100