Agenda item

Public Participation:

-       Mr Tony Hill spoke in objection to the application.

-       Ms Aimee Cannon, (statement read out by the Chairman on Ms Cannon’s behalf) in support of the application.

-       Mr Tony Murch, representing Seend Parish Council, spoke in objection to the application.

 

The Area Development Manager introduced the report which recommended approval for the application.

 

Members of the public then had the opportunity to speak as detailed above.

 

A debate ensued during which it was moved and seconded that planning permission be granted as recommended and it was

 

Resolved:    

 

That Planning permission be GRANTED.

 

For the following reasons:

 

This proposal would make a significant and highly valued contribution towards Wiltshire’s renewable energy targets, and whilst local concerns exist over the industrialisation of the countryside, it has to be acknowledged that to provide the scale of renewable energy necessary to meet climate change targets, this type of development needs to be located in rural and semi-rural areas. The application has been subject to a rigorous assessment and it is concluded by officers that this is a well chosen site and through negotiations and revisions made to the scheme, the visual and landscape impacts would be low.

 

Subject to the following conditions:

 

1       The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

 

          REASON:  To comply with the provisions of Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

 

2       In the event of the PV modules hereby permitted ceasing to be used for the generation of renewable energy, they shall be removed from the site, together with any supporting infrastructure, including the inverter/transformer cabin and switch room, and the land restored to agricultural use, within six months of their cessation of use.

 

          REASON: In the interests of amenity and the circumstances of the use.

          POLICY: Wiltshire Structure Plan 2016 Policies C12 and RE1 and West Wiltshire District Plan 1st Alteration (2004) Policies C1 and C34; and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

 

3       The development shall be carried out and managed throughout the operational life of the development strictly in accordance with the hereby approved ecology priority matrix as detailed within table 5.11 of the Ecological Appraisal (published by Avian Ecology) dated 29 February 2012.

 

          REASON: In the interests of safeguarding ecological and biodiversity interests.

          POLICY: Wiltshire _ Swindon Structure Plan (2016) Policy C1 and The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

 

4       No development shall commence until a surface water drainage scheme for the site, based on sustainable drainage principles and an assessment of the hydrological and hydro-geological context of the development, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The scheme shall subsequently be implemented in accordance with the approved details before the development is completed. The scheme shall also include details of how the scheme shall be maintained and managed after completion.

 

          REASON: To prevent the increased risk of flooding, to improve and protect water quality, improve habitat and amenity, and ensure future maintenance of the surface water drainage system.

 

5       No development shall commence on site until the applicant/developer has submitted details of the exact colour of the deer fence for the written approval of the Council and following its construction, it shall be retained and maintained for the lifetime of the development.

 

          REASON: In the interests of visual amenity and to protect the character and appearance of the area.

          POLICY: Wiltshire Structure Plan 2016 Policies C12 and RE1 and West Wiltshire District Plan 1st Alteration (2004) Policies C1, C31a and C34; and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

 

          Note: The Council would expect a recessive green colour to be submitted for formal approval.

 

6       No development shall commence on site until the applicant/developer has submitted details of the exact colour of the sub-station and inverter buildings for the written approval of the Council and following its construction, it shall be retained and maintained for the lifetime of the development.

 

          REASON: In the interests of visual amenity and the character and appearance in the open countryside.

          POLICY: West Wiltshire District Plan 1st Alteration (2004) Policies C1, C31a and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

 

          Note: The Council would expect a recessive green colour to be submitted for formal approval.

 

7       The development hereby approved shall be carried out in accordance with the approved Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) published by PFA Consulting dated March 2012 and approved plan drawing no. SKD19 Rev G and the following mitigation measures detailed within the FRA:

 

          Photovoltaic modules will be set no lower than 46m AOD

          There will be no ground raising in the floodplain.

          There will be no compounds or access roads in the floodplain.

 

          REASON: To reduce the risk and impact of flooding to the proposed development and future occupants.

 

8       The development hereby approved shall fully accord with the details contained within the Construction Traffic Management (CTM) Plan.

 

          REASON: In the interests of road safety and preventing nuisance to local amenities.

          POLICY: West Wiltshire District Plan - 1st Alteration Policy C38.

 

9       The defined bridleway (PROW ref MELK25) and footpath (PROW ref MELK29) shall both be kept free from obstruction during and after the construction period.

 

          REASON: In order to protect and safeguard the public’s right to use the public right of ways (PROW ref(s) MELK 25 and MELK29)

 

          POLICY: West Wiltshire District Plan - 1st Alteration Policy T12.

 

10     The development hereby approved shall fully accord with the details contained within the Construction Method Statement dated 9 March 2012, including the restriction that the development hereby approved shall be constructed between the hours of 08:00 and 18:00 Monday to Friday and 08:00 and 13:00 on Saturdays only.

 

          REASON:  In order to safeguard the amenity of the area and prevent nuisance to local amenities.

 

          POLICY: West Wiltshire District Plan - 1st Alteration Policy C38.

 

11     No permission is hereby given for any external lighting/illumination at or on the site.

 

          REASON:  To ensure the creation/retention of an environment free from intrusive levels of lighting and to protect the open countryside.

          POLICY:    West Wiltshire District Plan 1st Alteration 2004 Policies C1 and C38 and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

 

12     The landscaping proposals hereby approved and as indicated on plan drawing no. L.0196_01-B shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding season following the completion of the development. All shrubs, trees and hedge planting shall be maintained free from weeds and shall be protected from damage by vermin and stock.  Any trees, hedgerow or plants which, within the period of twenty five years, die, are removed, or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of a similar size and species, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority.  All hard landscaping shall also be carried out in accordance with the approved details or in accordance with a programme to be agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority.

 

          REASON: To ensure a satisfactory landscaped setting for the development and the protection of existing important landscape features.

          POLICY: West Wiltshire District Plan – 1st Alteration Policy C32.

 

13     The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out except in complete accordance with the details shown on the submitted plans:

 

          LOCATION PLAN received on 02.05.2012

          TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY – plan drawing no. 11349-500-001 received 20.03.2012

          SITE LAYOUT PLAN – plan drawing SKD19 Rev G received on 08.05.2012

          PROPOSED PLANTING PLAN – plan drawing no. L.0196_01-B received on 03.05.2012

          FRAME SYSTEM DETAILS – plan drawing no. DET19 received on 02.05.2012

          HV TRANSFORMER ELEVATION – plan drawing no. 202 Issue 6 received on 20.03.2012

          DEER FENCE DETAILS – plan drawing no. DEF received on 10.05.2012

          FENCE SPECIFICATION DETAILS – plan drawing no. FLEX 13/190/15 received on 10.05.2012

          INVERTER HOUSING DETAILS- plan drawing (66) 603 Rev C3 received on 25.04.2012

         

          REASON: To ensure that the development is carried out in accordance with the approved plans that have been judged to be acceptable by the local planning authority.