Decision details

A report was presented on a non material amendment of permission LCC/2014/0047 to allow for an increase in the height of the rig to be used for the plugging and abandonment of the well at Becconsall Exploration Site, Off Bonny Barn Road, Hundred End, Banks.

It was reported that no formal consultations were required with applications for non material amendments. However, the report included details of six representations received.

The Development Management Officer presented a PowerPoint presentation showing an aerial photograph of the site and the nearest residential properties. The committee was also shown an illustration of the proposed rig and photographs of the site from various viewpoints.

The officer reported orally that the Environment Agency had raised no objection to the proposal and that the Health and Safety Executive had advised that the operator would be required to provide notification to the HSE prior to decommissioning and abandoning the well. The notification would allow HSE inspectors to scrutinise the activity to ensure the well was abandoned in accordance with the OFFSHORE Installations and Wells (Design and Construction) Regulations.

Maureen Mills, a local resident, addressed the Committee and objected to the proposal for the following summarised reasons:

• The increase in rig height should be subject to a full planning application and not a non material amendment;
• There was no justification for an increase in the rig height from 22 metres to 32 metres.
• The increase in height would have a detrimental impact on the landscape and on residential amenity.

Ms Mills asked for the designation of the proposal as 'non material' to be reconsidered and be brought back to the Committee for further consideration with a full impact assessment.

Helen Rimmer addressed the Committee on behalf of Friends of the Earth (FoE). She maintained that a 30% increase in rig height should be considered as a material change and accompanied by a revised Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment.

Following debate and questions to officers with regard to the availability of a 22 metre rig it was:

Resolved:  That the application for a non-material amendment of Condition 3b to permission LCC/2014/0047 be granted as set out in the report to the committee.