A bid to alter conditions for an approved onshore part of ‘England’s leading’ tidal energy project was discussed in detail by the Isle of Wight Council last night (Tuesday).
Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre’s (PTEC) revised application has been recommended for approval by the council, subject to previously approved planning conditions and a legal agreement for a Biodiversity Mitigation Contribution of £19,800.
County Hall’s Planning Committee will reach a decision on whether to approve PTEC’s proposal to carry out its development in two phases.
The application site at Flowers Brook is just south of the Steephill Road near Ventnor.
PTEC’s proposed onshore development consists of a substation, access and parking changes, cabling to connect marine electricity export cables to the substation and landscaping works.
The company has previously said: ‘PTEC is England’s leading multi-megawatt tidal stream energy generation project.
‘Based to the south of the Isle of Wight, the fully consented site for the initial 30MW will provide enough energy to power a third of homes on the island.’
In a Planning Committee report, the council said:
"This application does not propose any changes to the approved development but is seeking to vary conditions three to nine, 11 and 12 to facilitate a start being made on site on or before December 14 2024, in accordance with condition one of the 2021 permission.
"It is not legal to vary the time limit condition itself. To this end, it is proposed for the development to be carried out in two phases, with the submitted details referring to phase one as “Commencement Works” and phase two to comprise the remainder of the development."
Justifying its recommendation for approval with conditions, the council said:
"Planning permission has already been granted for this development in December 2021.
"The planning committee report for application 21/01623/FUL balanced the economic, social and environmental benefits of the scheme against any potential adverse effects.
"It concluded that, on balance the economic, environmental and social benefits of the scheme would outweigh any temporary adverse impacts, which could be mitigated.
"This application only relates to a specific number of conditions on the 2021 permission.
"The recommended modified conditions as set out in section 10 of this report would enable the development to progress in two phases as proposed by the applicant, whilst ensuring that required mitigation would be secured, implemented and delivered at the appropriate stage of the development."
PTEC has attracted significant public criticism with a raft of objecting comments submitted to the council in the last few months.
St Catherine’s Road, Niton, resident Claire Spencer said:
"The pre-planning conditions were set by the council and agreed to by the applicant, and they were deemed fair and reasonable.
"The applicant has had almost three years to comply and if agreed to, the local authority will lose all control over the implementation of the PTEC development and restoration of this important ecological and local site that is Flowers Brook.
"We should preserve and protect its integrity."
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