Agenda item

This application is for the installation of roof mounted flues and associated external plant and machinery with a ground mounted fresh air handling unit to ventilate the Nanocentre, a facility within the building associated with research into the production of solar cells and precision silicon fibre optics.

Councillor Neil Barnes has called the application in for consideration by Members of the East Area Planning Sub-Committee in view of the potential impact upon the residential amenity of properties in Mill Lane. [Heslington] [Site Visit]

Members considered a full application for the installation of roof mounted flues and associated external plant and machinery.

Representations in objection were received from a local resident. She was concerned about the noise that would be heard from the operation of the machinery and that the trees along the boundary were deciduous and so would not screen the site effectively. She also raised concerns about safety, related to the usage and toxicity of the chemicals which would be used on the site. She felt that no details had been given about the containment and disposal of the chemicals.

Representations in support were received from the agent for the applicant. He informed Members that the usage of chemicals would be limited and would only be used in small volumes in a diluted form. He also felt that the flues and machinery would not be readily visible from the rest of the Science Park and that the noise levels produced would be minimal.

In reference to the comments about the usage of chemicals on the site, Officers informed Members that the chemicals that would be used conformed with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations. They also added that the volume of chemicals that would be used were below the threshold set by the regulations. Members were informed that if the plant was found to be using a level above this, then enforcement would be carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). It was also reported that the HSE carried out unannounced inspections to make sure that the regulations had been complied with.

Some Members observed that other parts of the Science Park would also be dealing with hazardous materials and questioned if new equipment was installed which produced noise, whether they would be above the level of the current noise made by the fans.

The agent for the applicant confirmed that the levels of new equipment would not be above the current noise levels.

Some Members suggested that the vents on the building should be painted and treated to make them weather resilient and also felt that evergreen trees should be planted to reduce the visual impact of the site.

RESOLVED:       That the application be approved with the following additional condition;

4.                          The flues hereby permitted shall be painted a dark colour previously authorised in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to being first brought into use.

Reason:              To safeguard the visual amenity of the wider street scene and to secure compliance with Policy GP1 of the York Development Control Local Plan.

REASON:           In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority, the proposal subject to the conditions listed above and in the Officer’s report, would not cause undue harm to interests of acknowledged importance, with particular reference to impact upon the visual amenity of the wider street scene and impact upon the residential amenity of nearby properties. As such the proposal complies with Policies GP1, ED7 and E8 of the City of York Development Control Local Plan.