Agenda item

Installation of a solar photovoltaic scheme together with landscaping and associated infrastructure

Public Participation

Phillippa Gatehouse spoke in support of the application.

Josh Stratton spoke in support of the application.

 

David Cox, Senior Planning Officer, introduced a report which recommended that the application for the installation of a solar photovoltaic scheme together with landscaping and associated infrastructure be approved with conditions.

 

One of the key planning issues was the principle of development, in particular:

      i.         Renewable Energy;

     ii.         Whether the proposal would result in the loss of best and most versatile agricultural land;

    iii.         Cumulative Impact of Solar Farms in Wiltshire.

The officer described the site and the application. The site had already had phases of solar panels built upon it, and with this application, which would generate 18MW, it would take the energy production up to 48.8 MW overall. The site was located on Salisbury Plain between Codford St Mary and Chitterne. The application site was approximately 22 hectares, however there was an access track and cable route which extended for about 3km towards Codford.

Th applicant had undertaken a survey and provided an Environmental Statement which gave details regarding the land. Approximately 3.4 hectares (approx. 15%) was classified as grade 3a (good quality agricultural land) with the rest being grade 3b (moderate quality agricultural land) and grade 4 (poor quality agricultural land). So, the majority of the land was not classified as the best and most versatile.  

Tree cover would be extended on the boundaries of the site to help screen it from view. There were very few solar schemes in the South of Wiltshire and therefore the cumulative impact was considered to be acceptable.

Members of the committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer. Details were sought on the lack of responses to the consultation other than from statutory consultees and how the locals and neighbours were notified. Further questions were asked in relation to whether this was a valued landscape and whether saved policy C3 from the West Wiltshire District Plan, had any weight. Clarity was also sought on the level of harm caused by the application and the various policies that applied to this application. Members queried how many solar panels would provide the 18MW, and it was stated that there would be 72,000 solar panels.

 

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

 

The unitary division member, Cllr Christopher Newbury (Wylye Valley), then spoke to the application. Cllr Newbury felt that the planners and the applicant had tried to undertake local consultation, however requested that in future the planning team should put site notices closer to the site. Cllr Newbury stated that in his opinion this was not the worst solar farm application he had seen when compared to some others in Wiltshire as it was not close to people’s houses. It was however a large solar farm and he had concerns regarding how the officers had interpreted the polices. Cllr Newbury noted that the national landscapes officer had objected to the application. Cllr Newbury considered that the Wiltshire Core Strategy did not have a ‘social benefit’ policy in relation to renewable energy, but the planning officer stated it was part of the NPPF considerations. Cllr Newbury stated that he was not going to propose a refusal motion but may vote against the application as a matter of principal.

 

Cllr Pip Ridout, seconded by Cllr Adrain Foster proposed a motion that the application be approved, with conditions, as per the officer recommendation.

 

A debate followed where Members discussed the need for farms to diversify and future proof their incomes. Members also highlighted that this would help to address climate change, and that most of the solar farms in Wiltshire were in the North of the county. Members were generally supportive of the application. Following the debate the motion was put to the vote and it was,

 

Resolved

 

That full planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out below:

 

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 and details:

 

Environmental Statement  - Non-Technical Summery

Environmental Statement  - Chapters 1-5

Environmental Statement  - Chapter 6 Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment

Environmental Statement  - Chapter 7 Historic Environment

Environmental Statement  - Chapter 8 Agricultural Land

Environmental Statement  - Chapter 9 Conclusions

Environmental Statement  - Appendix 1.1 Scoping Report

Environmental Statement  - Appendix 1.2 Scoping Opinion

Environmental Statement - Appendix 2.1 Construction and Environmental Management Plan (CEMP)

Environmental Statement  - Appendix 2.2 Landscape and Ecological Management Plan (LEMP)

Environmental Statement  - Appendix 7.1 Historic Environment Assessment

Environmental Statement  - Appendix 7.2 Cable Route (Scoping Report)

Environmental Statement  - Appendix 7.2 Archaeology Trial Trenching

Environmental Statement  - Appendix 8.1 Agricultural land Classification Report

Environmental Statement  - Photo sheets 1-19 Viewpoint Photography

Design and Access Statement

Habitat Regulations Assessment (Stone Curlew), Date: 10/05/2023 by Daniel Ahern Ecology

Habitat Regulations Assessment (River Avon) Date: 10/04/2023 by Daniel Ahern Ecology

Transport Statement

Ecological Impact Assessment Phase 4 - Codford Solar Farm, Date: May 2023 by Daniel Ahern Ecology

Preliminary Ecological Appraisal of Land South of Chitterne – Cable Route, Date: November 2022 by Daniel Ahern Ecology

Preliminary Ecological Appraisal Version 1.0 – dated September 2021- Daniel Ahern Ecology

Bio-diversity Metric Calculations Tool 131223 (1) 4367 & (2) 4367

Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy

Site Location Plan (AEM018-SP-01_rev04); PV panel Cross Section (AEM018-SD-01_rev05);

Typical PV Panel Cross Section (AEM018-SD-02_rev01);  Container Elevations (Battery Transformer and Customer Switchgear (AEM018-SD-03_rev03);  Internal Access Track (AEM018-SD-04_rev01); Cable Route Plan (STR_20.22_PV4 Rev 2); and Deer Fence Detail (252 – 3) -all received 10 May 2023

 

Site Layout Plan (AEM018-PL-01_rev09); Proposed Battery Section Drawing (AEM018-EL-01_rev04) – received 17 May 2023

 

Solar Panel Manufacturer Details – Deep blue 3.0 – received 19 May 2023

 

Baseline Map (crop plan); Addendum to CEMP app B (J M Stratton and Co); Addendum to LEMP and ES Statement Addendum to LEMP (Landscape Proposal Plan (Fig 6.3); Framework CEMP (by Chapman Lily Planning Ltd (dated 28 April 2024); CEMP addendum App A (RSPB email); and Addendum to LEMP App 1 Figure 6.3 Mitigation rev C – all received 5 April 2024

 

Addendum to Environmental Statement and Design and Access Statement – Dated and received  9 April – removing ‘credit scheme’ references from the documents.

 

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

 

3.    No development shall commence on site until an updated Landscape and Ecology Management Plan (LEMP) has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The LEMP will include long term objectives and targets, management responsibilities and maintenance schedules for each ecological feature within the development, together with a mechanism for monitoring success of the management prescriptions, incorporating review and necessary adaptive management in order to attain targets.

 

The LEMP shall also include details of the legal and funding mechanism(s) by which long-term implementation of the plan will be secured. The LEMP shall be implemented in full and for the lifetime of the development in accordance with the approved details.

 

REASON: To ensure the long-term management of landscape and ecological features retained and created by the development, for the benefit of visual amenity and biodiversity for the lifetime of the scheme.

 

4.    No development shall commence on site until an Archaeological Management Plan (AMP) has been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority. The AMP is to set out how archaeological Site 49 (as delimited in Chapter 7:’Historic Environment’ of the document entitled ‘Codford Solar Farm – Phase 4 – Environmental Statement’ that was attached to the application) is to be protected from physical impacts during the developmental and operational phases of the proposals.

 

REASON: To enable the protection of any matters of archaeological interest.

 

5.    No development shall commence on site until:

 

a)    A written programme of archaeological investigation, which should include on-site work and off-site work such as the analysis, publishing and archiving of the results, has been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority; and

 

b)    The approved programme of archaeological work has been carried out in accordance with the approved details.

 

REASON: To enable the recording of any matters of archaeological interest.

 

NOTE: The AMP and the SMS excavation and any archaeological monitoring are to be prepared and carried out by qualified archaeologists following the standards and guidelines of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA).

 

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

 

- the parking of vehicles of site operatives and visitors;

- loading and unloading of plant and materials;

- storage of plant and materials used in constructing the development;

- the erection and maintenance of security hoarding including decorative displays and facilities for public viewing, where appropriate;

- wheel washing facilities;

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

- a scheme for recycling/disposing of waste resulting from construction works; and

- measures for the protection of the natural environment.

- hours of construction, including deliveries; and a

- Pre-condition Survey: A photographic pre-condition (and post condition) highway survey;

 

shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority.

The approved Statement shall be adhered to throughout the construction period. The development shall not be carried out otherwise than in accordance with the approved Statement without the prior written approval of the Local Planning Authority.

 

REASON: To minimise detrimental effects to the 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.

 

NOTE: The applicant should be informed that the Highway Authority will pursue rectification of any defects identified by the highway condition survey which can be attributed to the site construction traffic under the provision of S59 of the Highways Act.

 

7.    The development shall be carried out in strict accordance with the following documents:

 

- Construction Environment Management Plan Including CTMP, Land south-east of Chitterne Dairy, Date: 28.04.24 by Chapman Lily Planning Ltd

 

- Letter: Re: response to RSPB comments on Planning Application ref: PL/2023/03024, by J M Stratton & Co. Planning portal file name: “CEMP addendum App.B”

 

REASON: For the avoidance of doubt and for the protection, mitigation and enhancement of biodiversity.

 

8.    A CEMP compliance report shall be submitted the Local Planning Authority no later than the earliest of the following; three months after the completion of the development, or, the scheme becoming operational. The compliance report is to be completed by a suitably qualified ecologist/ECoW and to include photographic evidence.

 

REASON: For the avoidance of doubt and for the protection, mitigation and enhancement of biodiversity.

 

9.    In the event that the development ceases to be operational, 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 with a Decommissioning Plan to be first 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 use of the site.

 

REASON: In the interests of amenity of the Special Landscape Area and the circumstances of the use.

 

10.Prior to the development hereby approved being decommissioned, the applicant shall submit an ecological assessment and mitigation report for approval by the Local Planning Authority. The site shall then be decommissioned in accordance with the approved details.

 

REASON: To ensure that protected species are not harmed through the removal of the equipment having regard to guidance contained in the NPPF.

 

11.No external light fixture or fitting shall be installed within the application site unless details of any existing and proposed new lighting has been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority in writing. The submitted details will demonstrate how the proposed lighting will impact on bat habitat compared to the existing situation. The plans will be in accordance with the appropriate Environmental Zone standards set out by the Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP) Guidance Notes on the Avoidance of Obtrusive Light (GN 01/2021) and Guidance note GN08/23 “Bats and artificial lighting at night”, issued by the Bat Conservation Trust and Institution of Lighting Professionals.

 

REASON: In the interests of conserving biodiversity.

 

12.Notwithstanding the details hereby approved, the finished colour for all cabins, substation containers, fencing and any other structure that forms a part of this development shall be finished in a dark green (RAL 6007) and shall be maintained as such thereafter.

 

REASON: In the interests of preserving the character and appearance of the area.

 

13. All landscape planting shall be undertaken in accordance with the Landscape Proposals – Mitigation plan (Figure 6.3) on page 43 of Chapter 6 of the Environmental Statement – Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment and maintained as such thereafter.

All soft landscaping comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding season following the completion of the development or in accordance with a programme to be agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority.

 

All shrubs, trees and hedge planting shall be maintained free from weeds and shall be protected from damage by vermin and stock. Any trees or plants which, within a period of 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 prior to the occupation of any part of the development 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 and to ensure that the site is satisfactorily landscaped in order to support protected species and their habitats.

 

13.All deliveries of solar panels and any other associated construction materials of the development hereby approved shall be confined to between the hours of:

 

     0730 to 1800 Mondays to Fridays; and at no times on weekends or bank holidays

 

REASON: In the interests of neighbouring amenity.

 

INFORMATIVE:

1.The applicants are respectfully advised that the proposed soft landscaping (the native woodland belt and native mixed field hedge) must be maintained as to not interfere or obstruct CHIT13 or CHIT14.