Declares that the Petitioner objects to planning permission for a renewable energy facility on Cocksparrow Lane, Huntington, which has the potential to devalue surrounding properties and businesses; further that a renewable energy facility could cause problems like smell pollution and noise pollution and could cause increased traffic congestion in the area; further notes that this could cause increased risk to Littleton Primary School foot traffic, due to increased large vehicular traffic, and could have a negative effect on local business and trade, be detrimental for local wildlife and become an eyesore within the local natural green belt.
The Petitioner therefore requests that the House of Commons urges the Government to take all possible steps to ensure that their objections to this planning application are noted by Staffordshire County Council.
And the Petitioner remains, etc.—[Presented by Gavin Williamson, Official Report, 25 April 2013; Vol. 561, c. 1067.]
[P001175]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government:
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government is aware that a planning application has been submitted to Staffordshire County Council in respect of the above development.
Local authorities have the statutory responsibility for considering proposals for development in their areas. Planning law requires that applications for planning permission must be determined in accordance with the statutory development plan for the area unless material considerations indicate otherwise. These material considerations include national planning policy. Local authorities will also take into account representations from the local community on the planning merits of the proposal.
National waste planning policy is contained in Planning Policy Statement 10: Planning for Sustainable Waste Management. This states that when considering planning applications for waste management facilities, waste planning authorities should take into consideration criteria including the physical and environmental constraints on development, existing and proposed neighbouring land uses, and any significant adverse impacts on environmental quality. This approach will continue under the Department for Communities and Local Government’s forthcoming update of waste planning policy.
Alongside this, the National Planning Policy Framework makes it clear that an application for renewable or low carbon energy development should only be approved if the impact is (or can be made) acceptable. To help implement the Framework, the Department for Communities and Local Government will publish new practice guidance shortly, setting out clearly that the need for renewable energy does not automatically override environmental protections and the planning concerns of local communities.
Through a series of reforms the Government are making the planning process more accessible to local communities because planning works best when communities themselves have the opportunity to influence the decisions that affect their lives. As this planning application is still being considered by Staffordshire County Council, it would not be appropriate for the Secretary of State to comment further.