Agenda item

Application Proposal: Section 73 application to vary Condition 7 of application ref: 13/05167/S73 to extend operational lifespan of Solar Farm from 25 years to 40 years.

The Specialist Officer – Planning presented her report to members with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation. She provided images to show the location of the solar farm and explained that the application was to extend the time limit for the solar panels from 25-40 years.

She pointed out that the visual impact had already been assessed and felt that there was little reason to object to the application.

Councillor Robin Bastable, Ward Member, offered his support and asked whether these would need to be replaced during the 40 years.

In response to this question, the Specialist Officer – Planning advised that the panels had an optimum lifespan of 25 years, however could last up to 40 years.

During the discussion, members questioned whether funding for a community benefit could be possible from the applicant, however the Specialist Officer – Planning advised that this would need to be dealt with separately and could not be considered as part of the planning process.

It was proposed and seconded that the application should be approved as detailed in the agenda report.

On being put to the vote, this was carried 9 votes in support, with 2 abstentions.

RESOLVED:  that planning application 19/01097/S73 be approved as detailed in the agenda report for the following reason;

01.       The proposal to vary operational lifespan of the solar farm, results in a temporary permission that continues to respect the character of the area and causes no demonstrable harm to neighbour amenity and highway safety in accordance with the aims and objectives of the NPPF and policies SD1, TA5, EQ1, EQ2, EQ4 and EQ5 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING:

01.       The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans: Drawings ref. 1024-0505-00 Issue 01, dated 24 January 2013; 1024-0000-00 Issue 01, dated 10 September 2012; 1024-0000-00 Issue 01, dated 4 September 2012; LCS-ECG-002, dated 17 May 2011; 9999-0206-05 Issue 01, dated 25 November 2013; 1024-0000-00 Issue 01, dated 3 September 2012; 2437_300, dated 10 September 2012; and 2437_201, dated 22 January 2013; 2437_100_RevE and 2437_200_RevC received 13 July 2015; 1024-0201-01 Issue 10 dated 25 November 2013; and 1024-0208-71 Issue 02, received 22nd November 2016.

            Reason: To avoid any ambiguity as to what is approved.

02.       The landscaping/planting scheme shown on Drawing No. 2437_100_RevE, together with details, ref. 2437_200_RevC, 2437_300, and 2437_201 shall be completely carried out within the first available planting season from the date of commencement of the development. For the duration of this permission the trees and shrubs shall be protected and maintained, and any trees or plants which die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species, unless the local planning authority gives written consent to any variation.

            Reason: In the interests of landscape character and visual amenity further to policy EQ2 of the South Somerset Local Plan 2006- 2028.

03.       The Landscape Management Plan shall be undertaken in accordance with the details of the application for discharge of conditions (ref: 13/05162/DOC) dated 20 December 2013 and revised details of 2 January 2014 as confirmed by the Local Planning Authority's letter dated 20 January 2014. Such approved management plan, shall be fully implemented for the duration of the use hereby permitted, unless any variation is agreed in writing by the local planning authority.

            Reason: In the interests of character and appearance further to the NPPF and policy EQ2 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

04.       Hedge details to be removed shall accord with those given in the application ref: 13/05166/DOC to discharge conditions validated 20 December 2013 and confirmed by the Local Planning Authority's letter dated 24 January 2014.

            Reason: In the interests of landscape character and visual amenity further to the NPPF and policy EQ2 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

05.       The supporting posts to the solar array shall be anchored into the ground as shown in drawing no. 9999-0206-05 Issue 01 received 25 November 2013.

            Reason: To avoid any ambiguity as to what is approved.

06.       The development hereby permitted shall be removed and the land restored to its former condition within 40 years of the date of 31 March 2014 or within 6 months of the cessation of the use of the solar farm for the generation of electricity, whichever is the sooner, in accordance with a restoration plan to be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The restoration plan will need to include all the works necessary to revert the site to open agricultural land including the removal of all the structures, materials and any ancillary equipment which shall be removed from the site.

            Reason: To avoid any ambiguity as to what is approved.

07.       No means of external illumination/lighting shall be installed without the prior written consent of the local planning authority.

            Reason: In the interests of landscape character and visual amenity further to the NPPF and policy TA5 and EQ2 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

08.       No CCTV equipment shall be installed on the site other than that shown on the submitted layout plan ref. 1024-0201-01 Issue 10, in accordance with the CCTV design details submitted with the application.

            Reason: In the interests of landscape character and visual amenity further to policy EQ2 of the South Somerset Local Plan 2006- 2028.

09.       No form of audible alarm shall be installed on the site without the prior written consent of the local planning authority.

            Reason: In the interests of landscape character further to the NPPF and policy EQ2 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

10.       Details of the surface water run-off limitation scheme shall accord with those submitted as part of the application for the discharge of conditions ref: 13/05166/DOC validated 20 December 2013 and accepted by the Local Planning Authority's letter dated 24 January 2014. The approved scheme shall be implemented in accordance with the approved programme and details.

            Reason: To enable the Local Planning Authority to retain control over surface water flood risk further to the NPPF and policies EQ1 and EQ7 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

11.       The temporary use of the middle field access, hereby permitted, shall cease on or before 31 March 2014. Thereafter this access shall be stopped up and this part of the site made good in accordance with details to be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority by 31 May 2014 and any landscape planting comprised in the approved details shall be implemented in the next available planting season. After the 31 March 2014 all construction and maintenance vehicular access shall be solely via the track at the southern access point off the roundabout on the A371.

            Reason: In the interests of highway safety and landscape character further to policies TA5 and EQ2 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

12.       The access track shall be constructed in accordance with the survey details submitted as part of the application for the discharge of conditions ref: 13/05166/DOC validated 20 December 2013 and accepted in the Local Planning Authority's letter dated 24 January 2014.

            Reason: In the interests of visual amenity and highway safety further to policies TA5 and EQ2 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

13.       Details of the means of connection to the electricity grid from the site shall accord with those given in the application for the discharge of conditions ref: 13/05163/DOC validated 20 December 2013 including the applicant's letter dated 15 January 2014 and agreed by the Local Planning Authority's letter dated 20 January 2014. The grid connection shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details.

            Reason: In the interests of visual amenity further to policy EQ2 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

14.       The means of construction, surfacing and materials of the access track at the southern end of the site shall accord with those given in the application for the discharge of conditions ref: 13/05166/DOC validated 20 December 2013 and accepted by the Local Planning Authority in its letter of 24 January 2014. Such details shall be fully implemented as approved.

            In the interests of landscape character and visual amenity further to policy EQ2 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

15.       The Site Construction Management Plan shall be fully implemented as detailed in the application for the discharge of conditions ref: 13/05166/DOC validated 20 December 2013 and accepted by the Local Planning Authority's letter dated 24 January 2014.

            Reason: In the interests of neighbour amenity and highway safety further to the NPPF and policies TA5 and EQ2 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

(9 votes in support, with 2 abstentions)