Agenda item

21/03722/VARS

(OFFICER RECOMMENDATION: PERMISSION)

SITE: Woodington Solar Farm, Woodington Farm, Woodington Road, East Wellow, SO51 6DQ WELLOW

CASE OFFICER: Ms Sarah Barter

 

Minutes:

 

APPLICATION NO.

21/03722/VARS

 

APPLICATION TYPE

VARIATION OF CONDITIONS - SOUTH

 

REGISTERED

24.02.2022

 

APPLICANT

Mr Hugh Brennan, Woodington Solar Limited

 

SITE

Woodington Solar Farm, Woodington Farm, Woodington Road, East Wellow, SO51 6DQ,  WELLOW

 

PROPOSAL

Variation of Condition 2 (Approved plans), 4 (Boundary treatment), 5 (CEMP), 8 (Arboricultural information), 9 (Tree protection), 12 (CMP), 13 (Landscape), 14 (Landscape maintenance), 15 (External materials), and 16 (Noise Mitigation) of Planning Permission 15/02591/FULLS (Installation of a ground mounted solar park to include ancillary equipment, inverters, substation, perimeter fencing, CCTV cameras, access tracks, and associated landscaping) to allow alterations to layout and design of the site that include a reduction in the number of solar arrays, re-provision and increased provision of conservation areas, replacement of central inverter with string inverters, alterations to alignment of security fences and permissive paths, rationalisation (reduction) of a number of internal access tracks.

 

AMENDMENTS

Drawing no’s received 24th Feb 2022 as a result of amended application site red edge to ensure the red edge tallied with that seen on application 15/02591/FULLS which this application seeks to vary:

H.0357_01_G – site location plan

H.0357_06_U – site layout plan

H.0357_24_F – site location plan

H.0357_39 Sheet 1 Rev C – landscape proposals

H.0357_39 Sheet 2 Rev C – landscape proposals

H.0357_39 Sheet 3 Rev C – landscape proposals

H.0357_57 Rev B –fence and path changes

 

As a result of the amended application site red edge the application was re-started with new validation date and publicity period on the 3rd March 2022

 

Further detail received:

Heritage Statement – 07.03.2022

Comparison CEMP – 07.03.2022

Biodiversity net gain information – 8.03.2022

Landscape email – 16.03.2022

Transformer building elevation – 18.03.2022

Drawings received 24th March 2022 updating section of route for bridleway

H.0357_06 V Site layout

H.0357_39 D – 1 Landscape proposals

H.0357_39 D – 2 Landscape proposals

H.0357_39 D – 3 Landscape proposals

H.0357_57 C fence and path changes

 

Email received withdrawing condition 17 from proposal – 05.04.2022

 

 

CASE OFFICER

Sarah Barter

 

PERMISSION subject to:

1.

The development hereby permitted shall be begun within three years from the date of the original permission ref: 15/02591/FULLS dated 4th July 2017.

Reason:  To comply with the provision 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.

The development shall not be carried out other than in complete accordance with the approved plans comprising drawings:

H.0357_01 G – Site location

H.0357_06 V – Site layout plan

H.0357_24 F – Site location

H.0357_39 D 1 – Detailed Landscape Proposals

H.0357_39 D 2 – Detailed Landscape Proposals

H.0357_39 D 3 – Detailed Landscape Proposals

H.0357_57 C – Revised fence and path changes

H.0357_11 B – Deer Fence

drwg 13_xxx_05.1_02 - Detail Framework 6 x4 block

drwg 13_xxx_05.2_02 - Detail Framework 12x 4 block

drwg h.0357_28 - CCTV detail

drwg H459/4 Rev B - Proposed Construction Access

Reason:  For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

3.

The planning permission hereby granted is for a period of 25 years from the date that the development, forming the Solar Farm (reference: 15/02591/FULLS) was first implemented on 22nd June 2020. This planning permission will expire on the same date. This date being 22nd June 2045.

Reason:  In order that the land is returned to its original condition and use following the expiry of the permission in accordance with policies COM2, E1 and E2 of the Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan (2016).

4.

The development hereby permitted shall proceed in accordance with the 'Outline Method Statement for Works Affecting Dormice' (OMSWAD), as set out in Appendix 3 of the submitted 'Woodington Farm Further Ecological Information' (Avian Ecology, July 2016). In the event a European Protected Species license is issued by Natural England, and insofar as there is a conflict between the OMSWAD and the licence, the development hereby permitted shall proceed in accordance with the terms of the licence.

Reason:  To ensure the favourable conservation status of dormice in accordance with Policy E5 of the Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan (2016).

5.

Development shall be carried out in accordance with the 'Construction Environmental Management Plan', Avian Ecology, dated 20th December 2021.

Reason:  To avoid, mitigate and compensate for impacts to biodiversity, including SINCs, notable habitats and notable and protected species, in accordance with Policy E5 of the Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan (2016).

6.

Development shall proceed in accordance with the Biodiversity Management Plan, Avian Ecology, dated 15th December 2019,as approved under condition 6 of application 15/02591/FULLS on the 8th June 2020.

Reason:  To conserve and enhance biodiversity in accordance with Policy E5 of the Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan (2016).

7.

Prior to the decommissioning of the site, a detailed decommissioning strategy addressing biodiversity impacts arising from the decommissioning phase, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. This shall be supported by any necessary updated ecological survey and assessment work and include measures that would ensure that upon decommissioning, there would be an overall net gain in biodiversity value at the site from the pre-commencement baseline conditions, as defined by the ecological survey work submitted to support the planning application. Decommissioning works shall proceed in accordance with the approved strategy.

Reason:  To conserve and enhance biodiversity in accordance with Policy E5 of the Test Valley Borough Local Plan (2016).

8.

The development hereby approved shall be undertaken in full accordance with the provisions set out in the submitted 'Arboricultural Impact Assessment Report' (Barton Hyett Associates) updated December 2021, including the Tree retention/removal/Protection Plan BHA_531_02 - Sheets 1 – 4.

Reason:  To ensure the enhancement of the development by the retention of existing trees and natural features during the construction phase, in accordance with Policy E2 of the Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan (2016).

9.

Tree protective measures installed in accordance with condition 7 shall be maintained and retained for the full duration of the works or until such time as agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority's Arboricultural Officer. No activities nor material storage, nor placement of site huts or other equipment whatsoever shall take place within the fencing

Reason:  To ensure the avoidance of damage to existing trees and natural features during the construction phase in accordance with Policy E2 of the Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan (2016).

10.

All service routes, drain runs, soakaways or excavations in connection with the same shall remain wholly outside the tree protective fencing.

Reason:  To ensure the avoidance of damage to existing trees and natural features during the construction phase in accordance with Policy E2 of the Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan (2016).

11.

Development shall be carried out in accordance with the Written Scheme of Investigation: Trial Trench Evaluation, Pegasus Group, November 2019 approved under condition 11 of application 15/02591/FULLS on the 21st November 2019.

 

 

Reason:  The site is potentially of archaeological significance in accordance with Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan (2016) Policy E9.

12.

Development shall proceed in accordance with the Construction Management Plan, Ethical Power, December 2019 and plan H.459/07 approved under condition 12 of application 15/02591/FULLS on the 11th June 2020, unless otherwise agreed with the local planning authority.

Reason:  In the interests of highway safety, in accordance with Policy T1 and E8 of the Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan (2016).

13.

Development shall be carried out in accordance with drawing numbers  H.0357_39 D 1, H.0357_39 D 2 and H.0357_39 D 3 showing the detailed landscape proposals.

Reason:  To improve the appearance of the site and enhance the character of the development in the interest of visual amenity and contribute to the character of the local area in accordance with Policy E2 of the Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan (2016).

14.

Development shall be carried out in accordance with the Landscape Maintenance plan dated December 2021.

Reason:  To ensure that the works undertaken maintain the appearance of the site and enhance the character of the development in the interest of visual amenity and contribute to the character of the local area in accordance with Policy E2 of the Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan (2016).

15.

The development shall not be operated otherwise than in compliance with the noise limits as specified in the LF Acoustics report (Noise Assessment 3rd Addendum Report, December 2021).

Reason:  To safeguard the amenity of nearby residential properties, in accordance with Policy E8 of the Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan (2016).

16.

Prior to the commencement of the development hereby permitted, full details of the proposed bridleway network shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. These details shall include the proposed routes, means of access/egress to the bridleways, construction and surfacing details, ongoing management and maintenance as well as details of the timetable for the provision of the bridleway network on site. Implementation shall be in accordance with the approved details and shall be maintained for the duration of the lifetime of the solar farm.

Reason:  To ensure satisfactory provision, maintenance and retention, in accordance with Policy T1 of the Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan (2016).

17.

There shall be no external lighting erected on the site during the construction or operational phase of the development.

Reason: In the interests of the countryside location and to avoid impacts to ecological interests on the site in accordance with Policy E5 of the Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan (2016).

 

 

18.

Prior to the commencement of any drainage works hereby permitted, full details of the proposed surface water drainage strategy shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Implementation shall be in accordance with the approved details.

Reason:  To ensure satisfactory drainage provision on site, in accordance with Policy COM15 of the Test Valley Borough Revised

Local Plan (2016).

19.

Within 3 months of the date of decision a method statement detailing how trees shown on the approved plans to be retained are to be

protected has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Such a scheme shall include a plan showing the location for the CCTV cameras with any recommended

pruning requirements, location and specification of any protective fencing, ground protection or other precautionary measures as informed by British Standard 5837:2012. Such protection measures shall be installed prior to any other site operations and at least 2 working days’ notice shall be given to the Local Planning Authority.

Tree protection installed in discharge of this condition shall be retained and maintained for the full duration of works or until such time as agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority. No development (including site clearance and any other preparatory works) shall take place this detail has been approved by the Local Planning Authority. No activities whatsoever shall take place within the protected areas without the prior written agreement of the Local Planning Authority.

Reason:  To ensure the enhancement of the development by the retention of existing trees and natural features during the construction phase in accordance with Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan policy E2.

20.

Prior to the installation of the transformer structure hereby permitted, full details of the transformer including proposed siting, elevations,

materials and finished colour shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Implementation shall be in accordance with the approved details.

Reason:  To safeguard the visual amenities of the area in accordance with Policy E2 of the Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan (2016).

Notes to applicant:

1.

In reaching this decision Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) has had regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and takes a positive and proactive approach to development proposals focused on solutions. TVBC work with applicants and their agents in a positive and proactive manner offering a pre-application advice service and updating applicants/agents of issues that may arise in dealing with the application and where possible suggesting solutions.

2.

Attention is drawn to Esso Petroleum Co Ltd apparatus situated near the proposed works and the ‘Special Requirements for Safe Working’ booklet and the covenants contained in the Deed of Grant.

 

 

Supporting documents: