The Welsh planning secretary, Lesley Griffiths, has upheld a planning inspector's recommendation to refuse planning permission for a proposed green energy facility in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
The appeal concerned a proposed re-development of a former Royal Navy depot in Milford Haven. The "green energy" proposed development included a 50 megawatt biomass converter, an aquaculture facility and ancillary research facilities.
However, planning inspector Clive Neild found that the landscape impact assessment submitted with the planning application did not appreciate the full visual impact of two proposed greenhouse units. Furthermore, there were potential highway safety concerns that would result if the development went ahead.
There were also concerns over the potential impact of the development on the Pembrokeshire Marine special area of conservation as issues were found with the ecological data submitted by the appellant. Further information submitted by the appellant did not successfully address the issues, so harm to the special area of conservation from the proposed development could not be ruled out.
This turned out to be the deciding factor in the appeal. The appeal was 'recovered' by the energy, planning and rural affairs secretary Lesley Griffiths, who agreed with the inspectors' decision, stating that the Welsh Ministers cannot grant permission without knowing that the integrity of the special area of conservation will be preserved.
As a result, the appeal for the £685m green energy facility was dismissed.
