Agenda item

Approved, subject to various requirements to be set out in the Minutes

The Committee considered application 20/00285/F for the construction and operation of a solar photovoltaic ('PV') farm, with battery storage and other associated infrastructure including inverters, security cameras, fencing, access tracks and landscaping at OS Parcel 6086 Adjacent and North West of Railway Line, Ploughley Road, Arncott for Birkett Solar Farm Limited

 

Richard Taylor, local resident, addressed the Committee in objection to the applicant.

 

James Hartley-Bond, agent for the applicant, addressed the meeting in support of the application.

 

In reaching its decision the Committee considered the officer’s report and presentation, the address of the public speakers and the written update.

 

Resolved

 

(1)           That authority be delegate to the Assistant Director for Planning and Economy to grant permission for application 20/00285/F, subject to the conditions set out below (and any amendments to those conditions as deemed necessary):

 

CONDITIONS

 

      Time Limit

 

1.           The development to which this permission relates shall be begun not later than the expiration of three years beginning with 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 Section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

 

        Compliance with Plans

 

2.            Except where otherwise stipulated by conditions attached to this permission, the development shall be carried out strictly in accordance with the following plans and documents: 

 

·            Drawing Nos PAP 001 rev 6, PAP 003 rev 07, PAP 004 rev 11, PAP 005 rev 01, PAP 006 rev 01, PAP 007 rev 01, PAP 008 rev 01, PAP 009 rev 01, PAP 010 rev 01, PAP 011 rev 01, PAP 013 rev 01, PAP 014 rev 01, PAP 015 rev 01, PAP 016 rev 01, PAP 017 rev 01, PSS 027 003 001.1, PSS 027 003 001.2, PSS 027 003 001.3, and PSS 027 003 001.4.

·            Planning Design and Access Statement, Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment prepared by Landscape Science Consultancy Ltd dated December 2019, Ecological Assessment prepared by Landscape Science Consultancy Ltd dated January 2020, Historic Environment Desk Based Assessment prepared by AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited dated January 2020, Flood Risk Assessment prepared by Kaya Consulting Ltd dated January 2020, Geophysical Survey Report prepared by Sumo Survey dated February 2020, Transport Report prepared by Mott MacDonald dated January 2020.

 

         Reason – For the avoidance of doubt, to ensure that the development is carried out only as approved by the Local Planning Authority and comply with Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

     

      Temporary Permission

 

3.          The permission shall expire no later than 40 years from the date when electricity is first exported from any part of the array to the electricity grid network ('First Export Date'). Written confirmation of the First Export Date shall be provided to the Local Planning Authority no later than one calendar month after the event.

                

        Reason - In order to safeguard the amenities of the area and protect the rural character of the landscape and to comply with Policies ESD 13 and ESD15 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 and saved Policy C28 of the Cherwell Local Plan 1996 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

4.            Not later than 24 months before the end of this permission, a decommissioning and site restoration scheme shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority, such scheme to include the management and timing of any works and traffic management plan to address likely traffic impact issues during the decommissioning period. The approved scheme shall be fully implemented within 12 months of the expiry of this permission.

                

        Reason - To ensure the environment is protected during decommission in accordance with saved Policy ENV1 of the Cherwell Local Plan 1996 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

         Landscaping, mitigation and maintenance

 

5.            The development shall be carried out in accordance with the landscape mitigation and maintenance details set out at figure 6 (a-d) of the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment prepared by Landscape Science Consultancy Ltd dated December 2019 and the landscape mitigation works shall be completed prior to the first use of the development for exporting electricity to the grid except where alternative timescales are set out in the aforesaid landscape mitigation and maintenance details.

 

  Reason - In the interests of the visual amenities of the area, and to comply with Policy ESD15 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 and saved Policy C28 of the Cherwell Local Plan 1996 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

6.          Prior to the clearance of the site a schedule of landscape maintenance for a minimum period of 5 years, to include the timing of the implementation of the schedule and procedures for the replacement of failed planting shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Thereafter, the landscape maintenance shall be carried out in accordance with the approved schedule.

                

        Reason - In the interests of the visual amenities of the area, and to comply with Policy ESD15 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 and saved Policy C28 of the Cherwell Local Plan 1996 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

Construction Management Plan

 

7.            Prior to commencement of the development hereby approved, a Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The CTMP shall include a commitment to deliveries only arriving at or leaving the site outside local peak traffic periods. Thereafter, the approved CTMP shall be implemented and operated in accordance with the approved details;

 

·       The CTMP must be appropriately titled, include the site and planning permission number.

·       Routing of construction traffic and delivery vehicles is required to be shown and signed appropriately to the necessary standards/requirements.  This includes means of access into the site.

·       Details of and approval of any road closures needed during construction.

·       Details of and approval of any traffic management needed during construction.

·       Details of wheel cleaning/wash facilities – to prevent mud etc, in vehicle tyres/wheels, from migrating onto adjacent highway.

·       Details of appropriate signing, to accord with the necessary standards/requirements, for pedestrians during construction works, including any footpath diversions.

·       The erection and maintenance of security hoarding / scaffolding if required.

·       A regime to inspect and maintain all signing, barriers etc.

·       The use of appropriately trained, qualified and certificated banksmen for guiding vehicles/unloading etc.

·       No unnecessary parking of site related vehicles (worker transport etc) in the vicinity – details of where these will be parked and occupiers transported to/from site to be submitted for consideration and approval.   Areas to be shown on a plan not less than 1:500.

·       Layout plan of the site that shows structures, roads, site storage, compound, pedestrian routes etc.

·       A before-work commencement highway condition survey and agreement with a representative of the Highways Depot – contact 0845 310 1111. Final correspondence is required to be submitted.

·       Local residents to be kept informed of significant deliveries and liaised with through the project. Contact details for person to whom issues should be raised with in first instance to be provided and a record kept of these and subsequent resolution.

·       Any temporary access arrangements to be agreed with and approved by Highways Depot.

·       Details of times for construction traffic and delivery vehicles, which must be outside network peak and school peak hours.

·       Booking system for HGV deliveries

·       Details for the provision of Banksmen

 

Contact details of the Project Manager and Site Supervisor shall be submitted to the LPA prior to the commencement of any works on site.

 

Reason: In the interests of highway safety and to mitigate the impact of construction vehicles on the surrounding highway network, road infrastructure and local residents, particularly at morning and afternoon peak traffic times.

       

Drainage

 

8.               Prior to the levelling of the site or construction of the access and internal tracks whichever is the earliest a detailed scheme for the surface water drainage of the development shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority.  The approved surface water drainage scheme shall be carried out and completed prior to the commencement of any construction works on the site and shall be retained as such thereafter.

 

         Reason - To protect the development and its occupants from the increased risk of flooding and in order to comply with Policy ESD7 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

Archaeology

 

9.            Prior to any demolition and the commencement of the development a professional archaeological organisation acceptable to the Local Planning Authority shall prepare an Archaeological Written Scheme of Investigation, relating to the application site area, which shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. 

 

Reason - To safeguard the recording of archaeological matters within the site in accordance with the NPPF.

 

10.      Following the approval of the Written Scheme of Investigation referred to in condition 10, and prior to any demolition on the site and the commencement of the development (other than in accordance with the agreed Written Scheme of Investigation), a staged programme of archaeological evaluation and mitigation shall be carried out by the commissioned archaeological organisation in accordance with the approved Written Scheme of Investigation. The programme of work shall include all processing, research and analysis necessary to produce an accessible and useable archive and a full report for publication which shall be submitted to the Local Planning Authority within two years of the completion of the archaeological fieldwork.

 

Reason – To safeguard the identification, recording, analysis and archiving of heritage assets before they are lost and to advance understanding of the heritage assets in their wider context through publication and dissemination of the evidence in accordance with the NPPF (2019).

 

Ecology

 

11.        The development hereby approved shall be carried out in accordance with the recommendations set out in Section 6 and 7 of the Ecological Assessment carried out by Landscape Science Consultancy Ltd dated January 2020.

 

Reason - To ensure that the development does not cause harm to any protected species or their habitats in accordance with Policy ESD10 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

12.          Prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved, including any demolition and any works of site clearance, a mitigation strategy for badgers, which shall include details of a recent survey (no older than six months), whether a development licence is required and the location and timing of the provision of any protective fencing around setts/commuting routes, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Thereafter, the development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

 

Reason - To ensure that the development does not cause harm to any protected species or their habitats in accordance with Policy ESD10 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

13.          No development shall take place (including demolition, ground works, vegetation clearance) until a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP: Biodiversity) has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The CEMP: Biodiversity shall include as a minimum:

a)    Risk assessment of potentially damaging construction activities;

b)    Identification of ‘Biodiversity Protection Zones’;

c)    Practical measures (both physical measures and sensitive working practices) to avoid or reduce impacts during construction (may be provided as a set of method statements);

d)    The location and timing of sensitive works to avoid harm to biodiversity features;

e)    The times during construction when specialist ecologists need to be present on site to oversee works;

f)      Responsible persons and lines of communication;

g)    The role and responsibilities on site of an ecological clerk of works (ECoW) or similarly competent person;

h)    Use of protective fences, exclusion barriers and warning signs

 

The approved CEMP: Biodiversity shall be adhered to and implemented throughout the construction period strictly in accordance with the approved details, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

 

Reason -To protect habitats of importance to biodiversity conservation from any loss or damage in accordance with Policy ESD10 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

Lighting

 

14.      No external lighting shall be installed within the site area.

                

Reason - To safeguard the amenities of the area and to ensure that the development does not cause harm to any protected species or their habitats in accordance with Policy ESD10 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework

 

Environmental Protection

 

15.        Prior to the commencement of the development, a Construction Environment Management Plan (CEMP), which shall include details of the measures to be taken to ensure construction works do not adversely affect residential properties on, adjacent to or surrounding the site together with details of the consultation and communication to be carried out with local residents shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Thereafter the development shall be carried out in accordance with approved CEMP.

 

Reason - To ensure the environment is protected during construction in accordance with Policy ENV1 of the Cherwell Local Plan and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.