Issue - meetings

Construction of a solar farm and associated infrastructure including three substations, cables, CCTV and security fencing.

A site visit was held in respect of this application on Monday 23^rd September 2024 by Councillors Louise Belcher, Dave Brookes, John Hanson, Sally Maddocks, Paul Newton, Joyce Pritchard and Sandra Thornberry. In attendance was Planning Aplications Manager Mark Jackson and Senior Planning Officer Andrew Clement.

Under the scheme of public participation, Paul Holland (Scotforth Parish Council & Bailrigg Village Residents Association) spoke against the application. Richard Wooldridge (HPA Chartered Architects) responded in favour, on behalf of the applicant.

It was proposed by Councillor Robert Redfern and seconded by Councillor Dave Brookes:

“That the application be approved subject to the conditions in the Committee Report and subject to condition 2 controlling the colour of the substations to be dark green.”

Upon being put to the vote, thirteen Councillors voted in favour of the proposal with none against and one abstention, whereupon the Chair declared the proposal to have been carried.

Resolved:

That the application be approved subject to the conditions in the Committee Report and subject to condition 2 controlling the colour of the substations to be dark green and subject to the following conditions:

1.    Timescale.

2.    Accord with approved plans.

3.    Contaminated land assessment.

4.    Construction management plan.

5.    Details of access point works for construction traffic.

6.    Archaeological investigation.

7.    Employment skills plan.

8.    Tree protection measures.

9.    Flood risk and drainage measures.

10.  Biodiversity Gain Plan, including management, maintenance and monitoring plans for at least 30 years.

11.  Scheme for facilitating access over drainage bunds.

12.  Verification report of implemented drainage.

13.  Landscaping plan and maintenance.

14.  Surveying and repair any damage to Bailrigg Lane.

15.  Details and precise locations of fencing and security poles.

16.  Scheme for provision of temporary moveable structures within 30 metre buffer of pylon, no development/structures within 15 metres.

17.  25-year period (or 12mths of no electricity generation) and decommissioning plan.

18.  Implement ecology report mitigation.

19.  Geotextile lined, grass seed and maintain level changes for drainage and substations.

20.  Maintain access and easement to pylon.

21.  Underground cabling.

22.  No development/structures over 4 metres tall within buffer of electricity lines.