Agenda item

Public Participation:

Paul Oakley spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Andrew Pearce spoke on behalf of Holt Parish Council.

The Planning Officer outlined the report which recommended the application for approval subject to conditions.

Members of the public were invited to speak on the application as listed above.

Chair stated that the local Member, Councillor Carbin, had had to tender his apologies as he had been called to other Council business.

Issues discussed included: the position of the proposals, the height of the panels, the access to the site, the intended use of the power generated to support agricultural business, the quality grading of the agricultural land and the impact of existing landscaping. Following the debate the meeting;

Resolved to approve the application 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. The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans:

• Design and Access Statement – Received 23 June 2014
• Location Plan – Received 23 June 2014
• Proposed Photovoltaic’s – Received 23 June 2014
• Solar Panel Details – Received 23 June 2014
• Email from agent - Received 15 September 2014
• Site Plan Rev E Barn One – Received 25 September 2014
• Site Plan Rev E Barn Two – Received 25 September 2014
• Shading Report Barn One - Received 25 September 2014
• Shading Report Barn Two - Received 25 September 2014
• Shading Report Letter - Received 25 September 2014
• Tree Line Photos - Received 25 September 2014
• Agricultural Classification Report – Received 17 October 2014
• Agricultural Land Classification Map – Received 17 October 2014

REASON: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

3. The development hereby approved shall be discontinued and the land restored to its former condition on or before 26 November 2039 in accordance with a Decommissioning Plan to be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to the commencement of decommissioning; unless before that date planning permission has been sought and granted for the retention of these structures for an extended period of time.

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

4. In the event that the development ceases to be operational for the generation of energy before the end of the period defined in condition 3 above, then all associated development on, under or above the application site shall be removed from the site and the land returned to its former condition in accordance to a Decommissioning Plan to be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to the commencement of decommissioning, and within six months of the cessation of the generation of energy from the site.

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

5. Following the installation of the solar array, no fence enclosures shall be erected on the installation site and there shall be no external lighting/illumination at or on the site unless otherwise approved by the Local Planning Authority following the submission of a separate planning permission.

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

6. No development shall commence on site, until a Construction Method Statement, which shall include the following: 

a)     The number of and vehicle type used for delivery of the solar panels.

b)     Details of any traffic routing or temporary diversions.

c)     the delivery hours and parking of vehicles of site operatives and visitors;

d)     loading and unloading of plant and materials;

e)     storage of plant and materials used in constructing the development;

f)       wheel washing facilities;

g)     measures to control the emission of dust and dirt during construction;

h)     measures for the protection of the natural environment and;

i)       has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. The approved Statement shall be complied with in full throughout the construction period. The development shall not be carried out otherwise than in accordance with the approved construction method statement.

REASON: To minimise detrimental effects to the Highway Network, neighbouring amenities, the amenities of the area in general, detriment to the natural environment through the risks of pollution and dangers to highway safety, during the construction phase.

7. a) No development shall commence on site, and; no equipment, machinery or materials shall be brought onto site for the purpose of development, until a tree and hedge Protection Plan showing the exact position of each tree and hedge and siting of secure protective fencing in accordance with British Standard 5837: 2012: “Trees in Relation to Design, Demolition and Construction -Recommendations”; has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority, and;

7. b) The protective fencing shall be erected in accordance with the approved details. The protective fencing shall remain in place for the entire development phase and until all equipment, machinery and surplus materials have been removed from the site. Such fencing shall not be removed or breached during construction operations.

7. c) No retained tree or hedge shall be cut down, uprooted or destroyed, nor shall any retained tree or hedge be topped or lopped other than in accordance with the approved plans and particulars. Any topping or lopping approval shall be carried out in accordance British Standard 3998: 2010 “Tree Work – Recommendations” or arboricultural techniques where it can be demonstrated to be in the interest of good arboricultural practise.

7. d) If any retained tree or hedge is removed, uprooted, destroyed or dies, another tree shall be planted at the same place, at a size and species and planted at such time, that must be agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority.

7. e) No fires shall be lit within 15 metres of the furthest extent of the canopy of any retained trees or hedgerows or adjoining land and no concrete, oil, cement, bitumen or other chemicals shall be mixed or stored within 10 metres of the trunk of any tree or group of trees to be retained on the site or adjoining land.

[In this condition “retained tree” means an existing tree which is to be retained in accordance with the approved plans and particulars; and paragraphs above shall have effect until the expiration of five years from the first occupation or the completion of the development, whichever is the later].

REASON: To enable the Local Planning Authority to ensure the retention of trees and hedgerow on the site in the interests of visual amenity.

8. Construction work on the site shall only take place between the hours of 08:00 and 18:00 on weekdays and between 08:30 and 13:00 on Saturdays, with no work taking place on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

REASON: To ensure the creation/retention of an environment free from intrusive levels of noise and activity in the interests of amenity of the area.