11/00713/F - Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk

National Air Traffic Services (En-route Safeguarding): NO OBJECTION
MOD Defence Estates: NO OBJECTION In the interests of air safety, the MOD requests
that the turbines are fitted with aviation lighting. All turbines should be fitted with 25 candela
omni-directional red lighting or infrared lighting with an optimised flash pattern of 60 flashes
per minute of 200ms to 500ms duration at the highest practicable point. If permission is
granted certain information will be required including the date construction starts and ends,
maximum height of construction equipment, latitude and longitude of every turbine.
CAA: NO OBJECTION The development has the potential to impact upon aviation
operations and activities in a number of ways. In an effort to gauge the scale of any such
impact the CAA has been previously involved in consultation related to the subject proposal.
It is confirmed that there are no site-specific observations.
Natural England: NO OBJECTION RES have submitted a draft section 106 agreement,
intended to secure the delivery and management of the Goose Refuge area as mitigation for
predicted impacts on Pink footed geese. However, as stated in previous correspondence it is
our view that the proposal represents a likely significant effect on the North Norfolk Coast
SPA. The adverse effect on integrity could be overcome by planning conditions, obligations
or other legal agreements, hence the objection is removed. The Council as the Competent
Authority must determine this application via an Appropriate Assessment to demonstrate
compliance with the Habitat Regulations 2010.
RSPB: OBJECT as we consider it represents an unacceptable risk to pink-footed geese.
Management of collision risk in the area to be extremely difficult, if not impossible, as geese
numbers would likely remain high and there would continue to be attractive crops grown that
encourage geese to forage inland, and thus possibly fly through or near to the wind farm.
It is further added that the pink footed geese using this site are features of the nearby North
Norfolk Coast and Wash SPA's North Norfolk Coast and Wash SSSI. It is critical that the
proposal is thoroughly assessed to ensure these designated sites are not adversely affected.
The RSPB's opinion is that the Jack's Lane proposal does pose a likely significant effect,
(and without appropriate mitigation for the proposals impacts on pink footed geese foraging
in the wider area) a risk of an adverse on the designated sites will have to be concluded.
In subsequent correspondence received since April it is confirmed that the RSPB remain
unconvinced that sufficient mitigation will be provided, or that sufficient certainty is provided
that measures such as a goose refuge area will be delivered. The proposed refuge area will
be 72ha, this fails to account for displacement effect and collision risk, it is considered the
number of pink-footed geese have been underestimated. RSPB estimate that a 128ha
refuge area would need to be provided to give greater certainty that the refuge may be
effective in reducing impact on pink footed geese. The entire refuge area would need to be
provided for the entire 210 day period that geese are present in the area. Concern is raised
in relation to the estimate of geese which is a mean count.
Disappointment is expressed that there is no mention of turbine shut down which is
considered vital to the project. Such a condition has been attached to other wind farm
proposal. Failure to have this option available to address unforeseen effects of the wind farm
further fails to underestimate the importance of the area for pink-footed geese. The RSPB
maintain its objection based on inadequate mitigation and lack of certainty that the measures
proposed can be delivered.
10/01419/FM Development Control Board
25 July 2011
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