Agenda item

Approved, conditions to be set out in the minutes.

 

The Committee considered application 19/01046/F for the development of a ground mounted solar park incorporating the installation of solar PV panels, associated infrastructure and new access at Photovoltaic Installation and Premises, Woodstock Road, Yarnton, Oxfordshire OX5 1PQ for Generale Du Solaire.

 

David Pickford, Agent for the applicant addressed the committee.

 

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

 

Resolved

 

(1)      That authority be delegated to The Assistant Director for Planning and Economy to grant permission for application 19/01046/F subject to the following conditions (and any amendments to those conditions as deemed necessary):

 

CONDITIONS

 

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.

     

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: 

     

• Site location plan, Drawing Nos 772522- DWG-ENV-001, 002, 003 and 004, PV Power Plant Layout rev F, SK01 rev B, Transformer rev A, Cross Section Design, rev A and Access Road rev A.

     

 • Design and Access Statement prepared by Pegasus Group, Planning Statement prepared by Pegasus Group, Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment prepared by Pegasus Landscape Design, Tree Survey, Arboricultural Impact Assessment, Tree Protection Plan, Preliminary Ecological Appraisal, Great Crested Newt Survey, Bat Survey, Historic Environment Desk Based Assessment, Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy and Construction Management Plan submitted with the application.

     

 • Landscape and Visual Impact Assesment Addendum dated September 2019,

     

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.

     

3.      The permission shall expire no later than 35 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 1 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.

 

5.         Prior to the clearance of the site a landscaping scheme shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The scheme for landscaping the site shall include:-

                         

          (a)   details of the proposed tree and shrub planting including their species, number, sizes and positions, together with grass seeded/turfed areas,

          (b)     details of the existing trees and hedgerows to be retained as well as those to be felled, including existing and proposed soil levels at the base of each tree/hedgerow and the minimum distance between the base of the tree and the nearest edge of any excavation,

          (c)     details of the hard surface areas, including pavements, pedestrian areas,  reduced-dig areas, crossing points and steps.

                         

The development shall not be carried out other than in strict accordance with the approved scheme and the hard landscape elements of the scheme shall be fully implemented prior to the first operation of the development and shall be retained as such thereafter.

     

Reason - In the interests of the visual amenities of the area, to ensure the creation of a pleasant environment for the development and to comply with ESD10, ESD13 and ESD15 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

6.    All planting, seeding or turfing comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out in accordance with BS 4428:1989 Code of Practice for general landscape operations (excluding hard surfaces), or the most up to date and current British Standard, in the first planting and seeding seasons following the occupation of the building(s) or on the completion of the development, whichever is the sooner. Any trees, herbaceous planting and shrubs which, within a period of five years from the completion of the development die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the current/next planting season with others of similar size and species.

     

Reason - In the interests of the visual amenities of the area, to ensure the creation of a pleasant environment for the development and to comply with Policies ESD10, ESD13 and ESD15 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

7.       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, to ensure the creation of a pleasant environment for the development 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.

 

8.       The existing hedgerows along all boundaries of the site boundary shall be retained and properly maintained at mature heights, not less than 3.5 metres, and if any hedgerow plant dies within five years from the completion of the development it shall be replaced and shall thereafter be properly maintained in accordance with this condition.

         

Reason - In the interests of the visual amenities of the area, to provide an effective screen to the proposed development 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.

 

9.      Except to allow for the means of access and vision splays the existing hedgerow along the south west boundary of the site shall be retained and properly maintained at mature height, not less than 3.5 metres, and if any hedgerow plant dies within five years from the completion of the development it shall be replaced and shall thereafter be properly maintained in accordance with this condition.

         

Reason - In the interests of the visual amenities of the area, to provide an effective screen to the proposed development 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.

 

10.    Prior to the clearance of the site full details of the means of access between the land and the highway, including, position, layout, construction, drainage and vision splays shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Thereafter, and prior to the construction of the solar array, the means of access shall be constructed and retained in accordance with the approved details.

     

Reason - In the interests of highway safety and to comply with Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

11.      The vision splays shall not be obstructed by any object, structure, planting or other material of a height exceeding 0.6m measured from the carriageway level.

     

Reason - In the interests of highway safety and to comply with Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

     

12.     Notwithstanding the Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) dated July 2015 prepared by Transport Planning Associates submitted with the application prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved a revised 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.

           • Contact details of the Project Manager and Site Supervisor responsible for on-site works to be provided.

• 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.

• Left in left out arrangement to ensure that vehicles egressing the site do not need to cross oncoming traffic.

     

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. to comply with Policy ESD15 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1, saved Policy ENV1 of the Cherwell Local Plan 1996 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

     

13.      Prior to the levelling of the site or construction of the access and internal tracks whichever is the earliest the drainage for the development shall be carried out in accordance with drawing no. G234/03 and the drainage shall be maintained in accordance with the procedures set out in Table D of the Flood Risk Assessment dated May 2018 prepared by PFA Consulting 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.

 

14.      Prior to the first excavation or levelling of the site whichever is the earliest, a geophysical survey shall be undertaken by a professional archaeological organisation acceptable to the Local Planning Authority to inform the need for further archaeological investigation and a Written Scheme of Investigation relating to the application site area, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

     

Reason - In order to determine the extent, character and significance of the surviving remains of archaeological interest and to safeguard the recording and inspection of matters of archaeological importance on the site in accordance with Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

     

15.     Prior to the first excavation or levelling of the site whichever is the earliest and following the approval of the geophysical survey referred to in condition 15, 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.

     

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 Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

     

16.     The development hereby approved shall be carried out in accordance with the recommendations set out in Sections 5 and 6 of the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal carried out by Mott Macdonald on 16 October 2017.

     

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.

     

17.      The initial clearance of the site shall be supervised by a suitably qualified ecologist to ensure that no protected species, which could be harmed by the development, have moved on to the site since the previous surveys were carried out. Should any protected species be found during this check, full details of mitigation measures to prevent their harm shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority before any development commences. Thereafter the development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved mitigation scheme.

     

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.

      

18.     Prior to the first commencement of the development hereby approved a Landscape and Ecology Management Plan (LEMP) to include biodiversity enhancement shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Thereafter, the development shall not be carried out other than in accordance with the approved details.

     

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.

     

19.     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

     

 

20.     The solar panels hereby approved shall be constructed with a non-reflective material and shall be retained as such thereafter.

     

Reason - In the interests of aircraft safety due to the close proximity to the protected safeguarded approach and take off surfaces and visual circuit and to comply with Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

21.       No materials, plant, temporary structures or excavations of any kind shall be deposited or undertaken on or adjacent to the Public Right of Way that obstructs the public right of way whilst development takes place.

 

Reason: To ensure the public right of way remains available and convenient for public use and to comply with Policy ESD15 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.