Agenda item

Construction and operation of a solar photovoltaic farm and associated infrastructure.

Public Participation

John Jarvis KC spoke in objection to the application.

John Jarvis KC read a statement on behalf of Linda Buckley in objection to the application.

Matt Lomax spoke in support of the application.

Joe Richardson, Senior Planning Officer, introduced a report which recommended that the application for construction and operation of a solar photovoltaic farm and associated infrastructure, be approved.

The site was in the open countryside about three quarters of a mile from Coombe Bissett and Homington and was comprised of 2 interconnecting agricultural fields. Slides of the location and proposed plans were shown.

The officer drew attention to the ‘Rochdale Envelope Principle’ which allowed for design flexibility through the assessment of maximum design parameters and worst-case environmental impacts in the early design phase. This principle was being used on this application and was explained in detail in the agenda report. As such the site had been split into 2 development zones, to ensure sufficient flexibility.

An agricultural analysis had been undertaken on the site and the whole site was comprised of grade 3 agricultural land. 49% was grade 3a (good quality) and 51% was grade 3b (moderate quality).  In total the proposed scheme would remove 0.01% of agricultural land in Wiltshire. 

The solar farm would generate approximately 30 megawatts (MW) of power, which would be enough to supply approximately 9,642 homes.

It was noted that the Point of Connection (POC) to the national grid was not part of the application, however there was a condition if this application was approved that the POC would be subject to a future planning application. There was however a substation to the South of the site near Homington which could be used, and the applicant had an agreement was in place with the national grid to do that.

The site was shielded from the road by mature trees and there would also be further landscaping as part of the proposal. There would be 2 accesses to the site. There was a Public Right of Way (PRoW) through the middle of the site which would be retained. The site was also surrounded by a network of PRoW’s. The site would not be overly visible from most viewpoints as it sat in a dip of land.

There had been no objections from statutory consultees in terms of Landscape and Ecology, and the Climate team was satisfied that the benefits of the scheme outweighed any harms. Therefore, the scheme was recommended for approval with conditions.

Members of the committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer. Details were sought on the PRoW through the site, the POC and how the site would connect to it and the ministerial statement.

Members of the public then had the opportunity to present their views to the committee as detailed above.

The unitary division member, Cllr Richard Clewer (Coombe Bisset and Honnington Division) was unable to attend the meeting, so the Chairman read aa statement on behalf of Cllr Clewer. Comments included that whilst broadly in support of solar farms, this application had 2 main issues. The lack of a grid connection, which would likely involve tunnelling under the River Ebble and could have negative impacts on the river was one. The other related to the fact that the site was approximately 50% grade 3a (good quality) agricultural land. Therefore, the application went against current policy, and Cllr Clewer urged Members to refuse the application. 

Cllr Elizabeth Threlfall proposed a motion, contrary to the officer recommendation, that the application be refused due to the lack of detail on the connection to the National Grid. This was seconded by the Chairman.

A debate followed where Members discussed that there was new technology coming through which would likely render current solar panels obsolete within about 10 years.  Members noted that the size of the site was just below that which Natural England would comment upon. Furthermore, it was raised that there was no battery storage facility within the application and no connection to the National Grid. The appeal decision contained within the agenda pack was discussed, and it was highlighted that the inspector had put a lot of weight whilst making his decision that there was a grid connection for that application. This application did not have a POC and the Committee felt unable to evaluate the impact on the area without details regarding the connection. Concerns were raised that the site was at the edge of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The quality of the land was also discussed.

Members sought officer advice and further discussed the reasons for refusal. The final proposal, which was agreed by both the proposer and the seconder of the motion was to refuse the application due to the absence of details relating to connection to the national grid and any battery storage. The council considered that the application would have an adverse impact on the wider landscape, biodiversity and ecology, including the river system. Therefore, the application was contrary to CP42, CP50, CP51 and CP52 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy (WCS). This motion was put to the vote, and it was,

Resolved

That planning permission be refused for the following reason:

1.    In the absence of details related to the connection of the panels to the national grid, and the details of any battery storage facilities, the Council considers that the proposal would have an adverse impact on the wider landscape, the river system, and its biodiversity, contrary to the aims of policies CP42, CP50, CP51, and CP52 of the adopted Wiltshire Core Strategy and the NPPF.