Agenda item

Erection of substation located to the rear of number 38 Huntington Road [Guildhall Ward]

Members considered a full application submitted by Barratt Homes (York Division) Ltd for the erection of a sub-station located to the rear of Number 38 Huntington Road.

Officers updated that revised plans had been received that clarified the finished floor level of the substation. It would be 10.6AOD and the external measurements had not altered.

The following comment had been received from the City of York Council’s Environmental Protection Unit regarding magnetic fields:

‘I understand there are concerns from local residents about the possible effects from electromagnetic radiation associated with the proposed sub-station. Currently there is no specific legislation in the UK relating to human exposure to magnetic fields. The health effects of exposure to magnetic flux densities at 50Hertz are due to the effects of induced currents on the function of the central nervous system. The International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) have developed reference levels for compliance with basic restrictions, both for occupational exposure and exposure by the general public. The reference levels have been set at 500 microtesla for occupational exposure and 100 microtesla for general public exposure. These levels are hundreds of times higher than the level at which human effects can occur.

The National Radiological Protection Board regularly carries out measurements of magnetic fields and have found levels of a few microtesla at the boundary of sub-stations, which then drops rapidly to negligible levels within five metres from the sub-station. To put this in perspective they find typical levels of 0.1-7 microtesla from hair dryers, 0.15-3 from washing machines, 0.6-10 microtesla from food mixers, 2-20 from vacuum cleaners and 22 microtesla when standing directly beneath a 275 kilovolt power line.

All sub-stations must be constructed according to a British Standard. Barratt Homes confirm that the sub-station is to be constructed to this standard by Yorkshire Electric Distribution Limited; therefore I see no reason to object to this application.’

The Officer also reported that the Foss Drainage Board had no objections. A total of nine objections had now been received in writing and these raised the following concerns:

·        Lack of consultation letters

·        Health impacts – child leukaemia and depression

·        Flood risk

·        Loss of property value

·        Suggested relocation to the north of the site

·        The benefits are for the new housing estate only

Some Members asked the Officer whether the Environment Agency were satisfied that the sub-station would be unlikely to flood and he responded that it had been the Environment Agency that had set the level of 10.6 metres for the floor level.

Representations were received, in objection, from a neighbouring resident, who had the following concerns:

·        Health risks including leukaemia, cancer and tumours

·        Inconclusive evidence regarding impact on health

·        Consideration of alternative sites for the sub-station

·        Electro-magnetic fields can have an adverse effect on health

·        Consideration of local residents views and not just the building company’s views

Representations were received from a neighbouring resident, who objected to the application on health grounds.

Members discussed the fact that the size of the sub-station would be determined by the electricity board, the position of the existing cabling and the feasibility of relocating the sub-station. Members expressed their understanding of the residents’ concerns but felt that in the light of the information provided by the Environmental Unit there was very little evidence to support the view that there would be an impact on health if the sub-station were to be sited in the proposed location.

RESOLVED:             That the application be approved subject to the conditions set out in the report.¹

REASON:                  That the proposal, subject to the conditions set out in the report, would not cause undue harm to interests of acknowledged importance, with particular reference to visual impact (including that on the conservation area), residential amenity, flood risk and highway safety. As such the proposal complies with Policies GP1, GP15 and HE3 of the City of York Local Plan Deposit Draft.