Agenda item

Establishment of solar farm facility with supporting development, on 4 separate parcels of agricultural land located to the north, south and west of the National Grid Lovedean substation and which also straddles the district boundary between Winchester City Council and East Hampshire District Council (EIA Development) (AMENDMENTS RECEIVED (December 2022)- Revised Plans and Reports; Additional Information and Revised Chapter 6 in Environment Statement (Landscape and Visual Impact). (FURTHER AMENDMENTS RECEIVED (October 2023)- Revised Plans and Reports; Additional Information including Removal of battery storage facility; Reduction to area of solar panels; Revised ES Non-Technical Summary; Additional Landscaping; Creation of Permissive Footpath; Addition of Passing Bays in Day Lane. (May Affect Public Rights of Way & May Affect Setting of Listed Buildings) (Revised Description & Revised Details).

The application was introduced. Members were referred to the update sheet which provided additional information regarding several matters including the following:

1.         A consultation response received from National Grid including Planning Officer comments.

2.         A letter submitted on behalf of the Lovedean Village Residents Association and 46 residents that had been circulated to committee members including Planning Officer comments.

3.         An alteration to condition 29, Noise (Submission of Details Post Installation) detailed as follows:

Condition 29. Within 3 months of the first commercial export date, a post installation noise assessment shall be carried out and submitted for approval in writing to the local planning authority. This submission shall   verify that the cumulative rated noise level from the plant and equipment forming the Solar Farm is no greater than the prevailing background sound level (as set out in Condition 28) at the most sensitive period when the plant and equipment is being operated (e.g. evening, nights and weekends). The post installation noise assessment shall be carried out by a suitably qualified acoustic consultant/engineer and be undertaken in accordance with BS4142:2014+A1:2019 (or superseding guidance) for “Methods for rating and assessing industrial and commercial sound". If the noise criteria has not been met it will be necessary to identify and install noise mitigation measures within 3 months of the assessment being completed and a further post completion noise assessment undertaken so to demonstrate the noise criteria has been met. Any mitigation measures installed, shall be retained hereafter. All equipment including any forced air cooling fans and transformers must be maintained for the life time of the development. Any replacement equipment/plant shall also attain the same cumulative noise levels and be maintained to the same standard as set out above. 

Reason: In the interests of amenity and the protection of the local environment and to comply with the intentions of policy DM20 of the Winchester District Local Plan Part 2.

4.     A new condition, number 34, Broken Panel Management Plan detailed as follows:

Condition 34.Before the first commercial export date, a management plan setting out the methodology to be followed for the identification and remedial action to be taken in response to any damage, or wear and tear that may result in a breakage to a solar panel which may present a risk of groundwater pollution, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The submitted details shall set out the sequence of actions and the timetable to be followed in undertaking the actions with the intention of remedy any identified event as soon as possible.  The agreed details shall then be implemented during the lifetime of the development.

Reason: The ground water resource underlying the site is the strategically significant Bedhampton and Havant Springs public water supply abstraction. The need to protect this resource and reduce the risk of pollution  is paramount and to comply with policies DM17 & DM19 of the Winchester District Local Plan. 

5.     Two proposed additional Informatives as follows:

16. Advice from National Grid Consultee to Applicant: The applicant must have a valid connection agreement and have the necessary agreement for a cable easement with NGET via the Use of NGET Land process.

17. Advice from National Grid Consultee to Applicant: you are advised to have regard to the following:  Technical guidance note 287 “Third Party guidance for working near National Grid Electricity Transmission equipment” (2021).

In addition, to the update sheet the case officer provided a verbal update and provided further information to the committee concerning altered condition 29 and additional condition number 34 as described above.

The Chairperson noted that Members had made a site visit on Monday 14 October 2024 to familarise themselves with the application site. 

During public participation, Bernard Green spoke in objection to the application, Owen Horrell spoke in support of the application and Councillor Andreoli on behalf of Denmead Parish Council spoke against the application and answered members' questions.

The committee proceeded to ask questions and debate the application and during which, received advice from the Legal Officer concerning condition 34 (Broken Panel Management Plan).

          RESOLVED

The committee agreed to grant permission for the reasonsand subject to the completion of a legal agreement and to  the conditions and informatives set out in the report and the update sheet.