Agenda item

Construction of a solar farm with associated access and infrastructure to include substation, inverter stations, cabling, landscaping, CCTV and boundary treatments (pursuant to the variation of conditions 2,4,9,13,18,20 and 22 of planning permission 21/01247/FUL to amend the approved layout, scale, landscaping detail, boundary treatment and agree details of construction).

A site visit was held in respect of this application on Monday 12^th June 2023 by Councillors Louise Belcher, Martin Bottoms, Dave Brookes, Claire Cozler, Roger Dennison, Alan Greenwell, John Hanson, Paul Newton, Robert Redfern, Sandra Thornberry and Sue Tyldesley. In attendance were Planning Applications Manager Mark Jackson and Principal Planning Officer Jennifer Rehman.

It was proposed by Councillor Sue Tyldesley and seconded by Councillor Tom Fish:

“That the application be approved subject to the conditions in the Committee Report.”

Upon being put to the vote, 13 Councillors voted in favour of the proposal with none against and no abstentions, whereupon the Chair declared the proposal to have been carried.

Resolved:

That the application be approved subject to the following variations to the conditions:

·         conditions 2, 4, 9, 13, 18, 20 and 22 be varied as proposed by the applicant;

·         conditions 1, 3, 7, 12 and 16 be updated accordingly;

·         and that conditions 24, 25, 26 and 27 be included to reflect the changes to the development;

and subject to the following conditions:

1.    Standard timescale commencing 9 March 2022 – Updated to reflect original planning permission date;

2.    Approved plans – Updated to reflect approved plans list;

3.    Implementation of approved landscaping scheme – Updated to reflect approved details;

4.    Outline surface water management plan – Updated to reflect approved details;

5.    Work outside bird nesting season;

6.    Construction Traffic Management Plan;

7.    25 year consent and decommissioning scheme – Updated to reflect approved details;

8.    Submission of cabling details;

9.    Final Sustainable Drainage Strategy – Updated to reflect approved details;

10.  Survey of the adopted highway;

11.  Surfacing of access;

12.  Provision of visibility splays – Updated to reflect approved details;

13.  Implementation of a programme of archaeological works – Updated to reflect approved details;

14.  Invasive species method statements;

15.  Offsite highways work;

16.  Details of materials for substation building, details of final fence design to facilitate the movement of wildlife, details of foundation locations – Updated to reflect approved details;

17.  Operation and Maintenance Plan & Verification Report of Sustainable Drainage System;

18.  Submission of details and implementation of final BNG measures – Updated to reflect approved details;

19.  Construction Phase Surface Water Management Plan;

20.  Submission and implementation of final landscape and biodiversity management plan – Updated to reflect approved details;

21.  Wheel washing facilities;

22.  Implementation of hedgerow planting to mitigate glint and glare – Updated to reflect approved details;

23.  Employment Skills Plan;

24.  Development in accordance with AIA addendum – New condition to reflect approved details;

25.  Submission and agreement of a Tree Protection Plan and Arboricultural Method Statement – New condition to reflect approved details;

26.  Details and installation of new pond – New condition to reflect approved details;

27.  Zone 8 panel heights – New condition to reflect approved details.