Agenda item

Solar Farm – Variation of condition 16 of planning permission 2014/0633 to allow retention of solar farm for 40 rather than 25 years.

The Principal Planning Officer introduced the report.

RESOLVED:

To GRANT PLANNING PERMISSION subject to the signing of a Legal Agreement and the following conditions:

1      The development hereby permitted shall be read in accordance with the following approved plans and documents submitted as part of planning application 2014/0633:

Extended Phase I Habitat Survey, including Desk Study, (SLR Ref: 424-04114-00003), June 2013 Rev 01, received on 28th June 2013; Technical Details 1 (4020 1069-69.2), received on 23rd July 2013; PV Array Elevation and Section (000903_09 Rev A), Technical Details 2 (4020 1069-69.2), DNO Substation and Customer Switchgear Enclosure (000903_10 Rev A), LV Station Arrangement (3 no.) (000903_08 Rev A), deposited on 19th May 2014; Site Location Plan (000903_04 Rev D) received on 29th May 2014; and the revised Site Layout - Planning (000903_01_ PL Rev B), received on 18th August 2014.

2      The surface water drainage scheme approved on 4th September 2014, under application no: 2014/0619DOC shall be retained for the lifetime of the development.

3      The CCTV cameras shown on the details approved on 4th September 2014, under application no: 2014/0619DOC shall be retained for the lifetime of the development.

4      The sub-station adjacent to the western boundary shall remain a dark green finish for the lifetime of the development.

5      The proposed Solar Farm and associated works hereby permitted shall be dismantled and removed from the site within 6 months at the end of 40 years from it first being brought into use or in the event of it becoming non-operational, whichever is the sooner, and the site re-instated and returned to its original condition.

6      The measures contained within the Habitat Management Plan reference 424.05075.00002, version No. 1, October 2016, submitted as part of planning application 2014/0633 shall be maintained and retained for the lifetime of the development.

Within three months of the development hereby permitted first being brought into use, there shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Borough Council a Habitat Management Plan, detailing works to enhance the retained grassland beneath the solar arrays, including a sensitive mowing regime, the re-seeding of disturbed areas, and the over-seeding of the whole compound site with a wildflower seed mix to raise its botanical diversity (further details of which, including species mixes, should be submitted within the Habitat Management Plan).  The Habitat Management Plan shall be complied with and implemented as approved and shall thereafter be maintained or retained for the lifetime of the development, unless otherwise prior agreed in writing by the Borough Council.

Reasons

1               Reason: For the avoidance of doubt.

2               Reason: To prevent the increased risk of flooding; to improve and protect water quality; to improve habitat and amenity; and to ensure the future maintenance of the sustainable drainage structures

3               Reason: In the interests of amenity

4               Reason: In the interests of visual amenity

5               Reason: In the interests of visual amenity

6        Reason: To enhance biodiversity

Informatives

The Borough Council has worked positively and proactively with the applicant, in accordance with paragraphs 39 of the National Planning Policy Framework based on seeking solutions to problems arising in relation to dealing with the planning application.