By Paul Cargill
A major Perth employer has said it is “disappointed” council staff have
blocked its plan to use a 77-metre high wind turbine to part-power its
headquarters.
Bosses at insurance giants Aviva say they are now considering their “next
steps” after an application filed last September was refused by planning
officers.
If it had been approved, the structure – which would have been the height
of more than 17 double decker buses – would have dominated the Perth skyline.
The company, which currently employs around 1200 people at Pitheavlis, said
in supporting documents the steel and fibreglass structure could have
provided enough electricity to power over half the site cutting its energy
bills and carbon emissions.
But Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) advised PKC the creation would have
“significant landscape and visual effects” while Historic Environment
Scotland (HES) outright objected to it saying it would have much the same
effect on the setting of Aviva’s category A-listed building.
Now PKC case officer Persephone Beer has concluded the application ought to
be refused saying: “Having reviewed the supporting landscape and visual
impact assessment (LVIA) I have concerns that the assessment underplays the
significance of the turbine in the landscape and its impact on the visual
amenity of the surrounding area.
“As noted by SNH the submitted visualisations indicate that when seen in
open, unrestricted views the proposed turbine would likely be an
uncharacteristic and prominent feature resulting in a major change to views
in and across the Perth area.
“It would likely be the most visible tall structure in the city area. It
would be a new, large-scale element in important views towards and across
the city and moving blades would exacerbate this effect. As such it would
be a distinctive feature that would draw the viewer’s eye and it would
likely become a major orientating feature in the area.
“Contrary to the findings and conclusions of the applicant’s LVIA it is
considered that the turbine would, in fact, have a significant landscape
and visual impact.”
Further down her delegated report of handling Ms Beer continues: “The
turbine is likely to have a significant impact on the setting of the Aviva
building, due to the turbine’s scale and very close proximity to this
A-listed building.
“HES notes that the submitted visualisations … also very clearly
demonstrate this impact from close-range views within the Aviva site and
from the high ground to the north-west and conclude that there will be an
unacceptable visual change to views that contribute to the cultural
significance of the building.
“Due to the scale and proximity of the proposed turbine to this important
heritage asset, the proposal would adversely affect the Aviva building and
the way it is experienced in its landscaped surroundings, disrupting the
overall composition and redefining its focus.”
Responding to the refusal an Aviva spokesperson commented this week: “Aviva
takes climate change very seriously and we want to do all we can to try to
reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.
“The wind turbine would have generated over 50 per cent of our annual
electricity use, going a long way to make our Perth site fully powered by
locally generated renewable energy.
“We are therefore disappointed by this decision and are currently
considering our next steps.”
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