Issue - meetings

Application for the construction of an 32 hectare solar farm to include the installation of solar panels to generate electricity with access from A447 Ashby Road and associated substation building, switchgear building, inverter cabins, telecommunications mast, storage/communications building, battery containers, access tracks, fencing, gates, CCTV and landscaping.

Late items received after preparation of the agenda:

Appraisal:-

Amend conditions 2, 16 and 17 to read as follows:

2.         The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out otherwise than in complete accordance with the submitted application details, as follows:

Landscape Masterplan DWG P0357 rev. C received 10 December 2019

15m SLP2 TOWER DWG WPD-10238 rev. A received 10 December 2019

Switchgear Housing Rev A1 received 10 December 2019

33kV Substation Housing Rev A1 received 10 December 20

Racking Detail Rev A1 received 10 December 2019

Inverter/ Transformer Detail Rev A1 received 10 December 2019

Fence Detail Rev A1 received 10 December 2019

Container Battery Drawing Rev A1 received 10 December 2019

Communication Building Rev A1 received 10 December 2019

CCTV Detail Rev A1 received 10 December 2019

Proposed Site Layout DWG 234-02-PV Rev D2 received 15 May 2020

Swept Path Analysis DWG 234-02-PV Rev B5 received 12 August 2020

Site Location Plan received 15 May 2020

Reason: To ensure a satisfactory form of development in accordance with Policies DM1 and DM10 of the adopted Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Development Plan Document (2016).

16.       No part of the development hereby permitted shall be occupied until such time as vehicular visibility splays of 4.5 metres x 59 metres have been provided at the site access. These shall thereafter be permanently maintained with nothing within those splays higher than 0.6 metres above the level of the adjacent footway/verge/highway.

Reason: To afford adequate visibility at the access to cater for the expected volume of traffic joining the existing highway network, in the interests of general highway safety, and in accordance with Policy DM17 of the adopted Site Allocations and Development Management Policies DPD (2016) and Paragraphs 108 and 110 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2019).

17.       The development hereby permitted shall not be occupied until such time as the access drive (and any turning space) has been surfaced with tarmacadam, or similar hard bound material (not loose aggregate) for a distance of at least 15 metres behind the highway boundary on Ashby Road and, once provided, shall be so maintained for the lifetime of the approved development.

Reason: To reduce the possibility of deleterious material being deposited in the highway (loose stones etc.) in the interests of highway safety and in accordance with Policy DM17 of the adopted Site Allocations and Development Management Policies DPD (2016) and Paragraphs 108 and 110 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2019).

Recommendation:-

The recommendation does not change from that made on the agenda.

Application for construction of a 32 hectare solar farm to include the installation of solar panels to generate electricity with access from the A447 Ashby Road and associated substation switchgear building, inverter cabins, telecommunications mast, storage/communications building, battery containers, access tracks, fencing, gates, CCTV and landscaping.

It was moved by Councillor B Crooks, seconded by Councillor Findlay and

RESOLVED –

(i)            Permission be granted subject to the conditions contained in the officer’s report and late items;

(ii)           The Planning Manager be granted powers to determine the final detail of planning conditions.