Issue - meetings

Refused against officer reccomendation. Reasons to be set out in the minutes.

The Committee considered application 22/03873/F for the installation and operation of a renewable energy generating station comprising ground-mounted photovoltaic solar arrays and battery-based electricity storage containers together with a switchgear container, inverter/transformer units, Site access, internal access tracks, security measures, access gates, other ancillary infrastructure and landscaping and biodiversity enhancements at Land North and Adjacent to Mill Lane, Stratton Audley for JBM Solar Projects 8.

Christobel Smith, local resident and on behalf of Stratton Audley Parish Council and David Jenks, on behalf of Godington Parish Meeting addresses the Committee in objection to the application.

Robin Johnson, on behalf of the applicant, RWE Renewables, addressed the Committee in support of the application.

It was proposed by Councillor Conway-Murray and seconded by Councillor Wood that application 22/01682/F be refused, against officer’s recommendation, as it was contrary to policies ESD10, ESD13, ESD 15 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1, policy C28 of the Cherwell Local Plan 1996 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework (exact wording for reasons for refusal to be delegated to officers).

In reaching its decision the Committee considered the officers’ report, presentation, addresses from the public speakers and the written updates.

Resolved

That, contrary to the officer’s recommendation, application 22/03873/F be refused for the following reason:

1.         By virtue of the topography of the surrounding area and its exposed isolated location, the proposed solar farm, which would be visible from several public vantage points, would have a significant adverse landscape impact. The benefits of the scheme do not outweigh the harm identified. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policies ESD5, ESD10, ESD13, and ESD15 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1, saved Policy C28 of the Cherwell Local Plan 1996 and the National Planning Policy Framework.