Item 4 - Draft Minutes - Planning Committee 06 August 25
West Dunbartonshire Council · 10 September 2025
Back to Planning Committee — 10 September 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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PLANNING COMMITTEE At a Meeting of the Planning Committee held in the Council Chambers, Clydebank Town Hall, 5 Hall Street, Clydebank, on Wednesday, 6 August 2025 at 10.02 a.m. Present: Provost Karen Murray Conaghan and Councillors Gurpreet Singh Johal, Lawrence O’Neill, Lauren Oxley and Clare Steel. Attending: Michael Mulgrew, Planning, Building Standards and Environmental Health Manager; James McColl, Development Management Team Leader; Amy Melkevik, Lead Planning Officer; Michael McDougall, Manager of Legal Services and Nicola Moorcroft, Committee Officer. Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Kevin Crawford, Ian Dickson, Fiona Hennebry, David McBride and Hazel Sorrell. Councillor Lawrence O’Neill in the Chair DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST It was noted that there were no declarations of interest in any of the items of business on the agenda. OPEN FORUM The Committee noted that no open forum questions had been submitted by members of the public. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The Minutes of Meeting of the Planning Committee held on 04 June 2025 were submitted and approved as a correct record. VARIATION IN ORDER OF BUSINESS Councillor O’Neill, Chair, advised the Committee that he would vary the order of business as hereinafter minuted. ITEM 4
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DC25/019/S36: BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE FACILITY CONSISTING OF COMPOUND OF BATTERIES AND ASSOCIATED ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, STORES, ACCESS TRACK, BUILDINGS, FENCING, POND, BUNDS AND NEW PLANTING AT BRAIDFIELD ROAD, HARDGATE, CLYDEBANK BY BRAIDFIELD BATTERY STORAGE LIMITED The Planning, Building Standards and Environmental Health Manager informed the Committee that the Energy Consents Unit had advised that further information was to be submitted in respect to this application and that there would be further consultation. He sought a view from the Committee regarding discussing the paper as presented or to defer consideration of this item to a future Committee once that additional information had been received and reviewed by Officers. After discussion, and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to defer this item until a later meeting of this Committee. PLANNING APPLICATION A report was submitted by the Planning, Building Standards and Environmental Health Manager, in respect of the following Planning application:- DC25/076/FUL: Section 42 Application to vary Condition 12 - Working Hours (Amendment to DC24/081/Ful) at Artizan Centre College Way, Dumbarton by West Dunbartonshire Council. Having heard the Development Management Team Leader in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to grant planning permission for this Section 42 application, subject to the conditions set out in Appendix 1 hereto. APPLICATION DC22/245/FUL SCOTTISH MINISTERS DECISION ON PLANNING A report was submitted by the Planning, Building Standards and Environmental Health Manager providing an update on Planning Application DC22/245/FUL which was referred to the Scottish Ministers. After discussion and having heard the Lead Planning Officer in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the decision of the Scottish Ministers. NATIONAL PLANNING IMPROVEMENT FRAMEWORK A report was submitted by the Planning, Building Standards and Environmental Health Manager providing an update on recent work undertaken by the Planning Service in relation to the National Planning Improvement Framework and the endorsement by the National Planning Improvement Team of the Performance Assessment and Improvement Plan.
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After discussion and having heard the Planning, Building Standards and Environmental Health Manager in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the outcome of the above process. DC23/223/S36: PROPOSED WIND FARM DEVELOPMENT COMPRISING UP TO TEN WIND TURBINES OF APPROXIMATELY 7 MEGAWATTS (MW) EACH, WITH A MAXIMUM BLADE TIP HEIGHT OF UP TO 250M, AND BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (BESS) WITH A CAPACITY UP TO 20 MW AT THE SITE OF THE PROPOSED VALE OF LEVEN WINDFARM, KILPATRICK HILLS, EAST OF ALEXANDRIA BY VALE OF LEVEN WIND FARM LIMITED A report was submitted by the Planning, Building Standards and Environmental Health Manager seeking agreement on an updated consultation response, following the receipt of a revised proposal reducing the height of the proposed turbines together with updated supporting documents from the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit, on behalf of the Scottish Ministers, in connection with a proposed wind farm development comprising up to ten wind turbines of approximately 7 megawatts (MW) each, with a maximum blade tip height of up to 250m, and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with a capacity up to 20 MW at the Site of the Proposed Vale of Leven Windfarm, Kilpatrick Hills, East of Alexandria by Vale of Leven Wind Farm Limited. After discussion and having heard the Development Management Team the Committee agreed:- (1) that the report be forwarded to the Scottish Ministers as presenting the Council’s updated response to the consultation and that it highlights that the Council maintains its objection to the application in respect of the reasons set out in paragraph 4.21 of the report; and (2) that all matters arising in respect of any Public Local Inquiry are delegated to the Planning, Building Standards and Environmental Health Manager. The meeting closed at 10.46 a.m.
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APPENDIX 1 DC25/076/FUL: Section 42 Application to vary Condition 12 - Working Hours (Amendment to DC24/081/Ful) at Artizan Centre College Way, Dumbarton by West Dunbartonshire Council. GRANT full planning permission subject to the following conditions:- 1. Prior to the commencement of development on site, exact details of all proposed external materials (inclusive of all hard surfaces), to be used in the development site shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority. Thereafter, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Planning Authority, the development shall be completed in strict accordance with the approved material details and palette. Reason: In the interest of visual amenity. 2. Notwithstanding the approved plans, a programme for the implementation and completion of the soft and hard landscaping works shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority. Thereafter the development shall proceed accordance with the approved details, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Planning Authority. Reason: In the interest of visual amenity. 3. Notwithstanding the approved details, a Tree protection Plan to describe how trees on site shall be safeguarded through the development process, including details of any works required to the trees to allow for the construction phase shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority. Thereafter, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Planning Authority, the development shall be completed in strict accordance with the approved plan. Reason: In the interest of visual amenity, protection and enhancement of biodiversity and tree protection. 4. That any trees, shrubs or areas of grass which die, are removed, damaged or become diseased within five years of completion of the landscaping shall be replaced within the following year with others of a similar size and species. Reason: In the interest of visual amenity and biodiversity. 5. Notwithstanding the approved plans, prior to the installation of the proposed play equipment, full details of the equipment to be installed and its location shall be provided to and approved in writing. Thereafter, the play equipment shall be installed as specified and remain in place for the lifetime for the development unless otherwise agree in writing by the Planning Authority. Reason: To ensure that full details of play equipment are secured.
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6. Prior to commencement of any works on site, a site management scheme for construction traffic shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority. Thereafter work shall proceed in accordance with the approved scheme unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Planning Authority. Reason: In the interest of road safety. 7. a) No development that breaks ground or otherwise involves ground works (other than investigative work) can take place until such time as a comprehensive site investigation has been carried out to the appropriate Phase level and submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority. The investigation shall be completed by a suitably qualified and competent person and completed in accordance with advice given in the following: Planning Advice Note 33 (2000) and Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (as inserted by section 57 of the Environment Act 1995) BS 10175:2011+A1:2013 – British Standards institution ‘The Investigation of Potentially Contaminated Sites – Code of Practice’. Land Contamination and Development Management -Guidance. https://www.ep- scotland.org.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2019/09/ConLanDevGuide_12- Aug19-FINAL.pdf i. If the Phase 1 investigation indicates any potential pollution linkages, a Conceptual Site Model must be formulated, and these linkages must be subjected to risk assessment. If a Phase 2 investigation is required, then a risk assessment of all relevant pollution linkages will require to be submitted. ii. If the risk assessment identifies any unacceptable risks, then an appraisal of remedial options followed by a detailed remediation scheme will be submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority. No works other than investigative works shall be carried out on site prior to receipt of the Planning Authority’s written approval of the remediation scheme. Reason: To protect public health and to ensure that the site is suitable for its intended use. 8. Remediation of the site shall be carried out in accordance with the approved remediation scheme prior to the proposed development being brought into use. Any amendments to the approved remediation scheme shall not be implemented unless approved in writing by the Planning Authority. On completion of the remediation works, the developer shall submit a verification report to the Planning Authority, confirming that the works have been carried out in accordance with the approved remediation scheme and that the works have successfully reduced the risks to acceptable levels.
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Reason: To protect public health and to ensure that the site is suitable for its intended use. 9. The presence of any previously unexpected contamination that becomes evident during the development of the site shall be reported to the Planning Authority in writing within one week, and work on the site shall cease. At this stage, if requested by the Planning Authority, an appropriate investigation and risk assessment shall be undertaken, and a remediation scheme shall be submitted to and approved by the Planning Authority prior to the recommencement of site works. The approved details shall be implemented as approved. Reason: To protect public health and to ensure that the site is suitable for its intended use. 10. If there is a requirement to either re-use site won material or to import material then the assessment criteria and sampling frequency that would adequately demonstrate its suitability for use shall be submitted to and approved by the Planning Authority prior to any material being re-used or imported. In addition to this and in accordance with BS3882:2015 and BS8601:2013, material to be used in the top 300mm shall also be free from metals, plastic, wood, glass, tarmac, paper and odours. On completion of the works and at a time and or phasing agreed by the Planning Authority, the developer shall submit a validation report containing details of the source of the material and associated test results to demonstrate its suitability for use. Reason: To protect public health and to ensure that the site is suitable for its intended use. 11. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the Authority, no development shall commence on site until such time as a scheme for the control and mitigation of dust has been submitted to and approved in writing by this Authority. The scheme shall identify likely sources of dust arising from the development or its construction and shall identify measures to prevent or limit the occurrence and impact of such dust. The approved scheme shall thereafter be implemented fully prior to any of the identified dust generating activities commencing on site and shall be maintained thereafter, unless otherwise approved by this Authority. Reason: To minimise the occurrence of dust, in the interests of the amenity of the area. 12. During the period of construction, all works and ancillary operations which are audible at the site boundary (or at such other place(s) as may be first agreed in writing with the Planning Authority) shall be carried out between the hours and programme shown on the submitted schedule SAV1 in addition to the standard working hours of: Mondays to Fridays: 0800 – 1800 Saturdays: 0800 – 1300
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Sundays and public holidays: No Working Where changes to the programme are required, an amended schedule shall be submitted to the Planning Authority prior to the changes being implemented and approved in writing before their implementation. Reason: To ensure that the development does not adversely affect the amenity of neighbouring properties by creating excessive noise and disturbance at unsocial hours. 13. Prior to any works proposed which break ground or otherwise involves ground works, the developer shall secure the implementation of a programme of archaeological works in accordance with a written scheme of investigation which has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority in consultation with the West of Scotland Archaeology Service. Thereafter the developer shall ensure that the programme of archaeological works is fully implemented and that all recording and recovery of archaeological resources within the development site is undertaken to the satisfaction of the Planning Authority in agreement with the West of Scotland Archaeology Service. Reason: In the interests of the recording of antiquity.