A new 37-metre-high chimney at Llandough Hospital has been approved by the Vale of Glamorgan Planning Committee.

The additional chimney will stand alongside an existing 42-metre-high brick chimney at the energy centre on the northern side of the hospital, which contains the boilers for steam and water heating.

The works include duct work for a combined heat and power plant, external blowdown vessel, dry air coolers and external alterations to the building including new and replacement louvres.

Councillor George Caroll objected to the plans on behalf based on residents' concerns over visual impact, air quality and noise.

"I respectfully request that the committee vote to refuse the application on the grounds that it is unneighbourly and will impact adversely on residential amenity in the area," he told the meeting.

"The proposed new chimney will be located closer to residential properties on Spencer Drive and Lewis Road than the existing structure.

"While I accept that the visuals show the existing chimney is visible from those areas, the fact that this new structure will be closer to those residential properties means that it's not in keeping with the character of the area and the potential impacts from noise disturbances both during the construction phase and during operation will be more considerable than those from the existing chimney."

He also highlighted Llandough Community Council's concerns over emissions from the new structure.

"In the consultation phase, viewing residents' submissions you will note doubts about the receptors used within the area to determine that data and they do not believe that data to be accurate," said Cllr Caroll.

"During the past 24 hours or so I've been contacted by a resident from Spencer Drive, setting out fears the impacts that a potential fire will have in that chimney due to its proximity to trees on the hospital estate.

"These back directly on to residential properties on Spencer Drive and as such that person fears that any such fire that ignited those trees would then subsequently cause safety issues for residential properties and locals and safety of local people in the area."

The planning officer responded that "prior to the application and the air quality assessment being undertaken, the consultant has been in discussion with our quality officer in respect of the methodology of receptors."

"This report clearly says states the officer is happy with the methodology and where those receptors have been taken from in terms of assessing the background noise levels.

"One thing that is worth emphasising that even though the air quality shows it won't be a significant impact, it's based on a worst-case scenario by considering as part of the background impact the existing boiler emissions when operating the CHP engines as well.

"The proposal will replace the existing, significantly outdated equipment. It's clear from the report findings that it's certainly not going to not going to cause any greater impact than the existing equipment."

Councillor Ben Gray said the hospital "needs to modernise its function" and the chimney would not have "that much additional visual impact."

Planning permission was granted by nine votes to five.