Agenda item

Item 13: Development of a battery energy storage facility at land off Titchfield Lane, incorporating access road, security fence, and associated infrastructure (temporary 25 year permission).  

Land South of Ash Farm, Titchfield Lane, Wickham

Case number: 19/02710/FUL

The Service Lead Built Environment referred Members to the Update Sheet which set out concerns regarding the type of battery and the action to be taken in the event of a leak.

During public participation, Stephen Jupp (on behalf of Mr & Mrs Lamb) and Councillor Mike Hollis (Wickham Parish Council) spoke in objection to the application and Kevin Farr spoke in support of the application and all answered Members’ questions thereon.

In response to questions, Kevin Farr clarified that the applicants would be in agreement with an addition to the landscaping condition to ensure that enhanced large planting takes place to the northern boundary of the application site to offer early screening to neighbouring properties.

During public participation, Councillor Clear spoke on this item as Ward Member.

In summary, Councillor Clear stated that she fully supported Wickham Parish Council’s many concerns in respect of the application and raised queries in respect of the type of industrial battery to be used, the health and safety aspects and potential hazard risks. She suggested that a storage facility in this countryside location would change the outlook of the area and she did not consider 25 years to be a temporary period of time for a development that would increase traffic generation in an already busy location.

In conclusion, Councillor Clear considered that the application was contrary to policy MTRA 4 and stated that as energy storage was in early technical growth, the development would be best served on an industrial site where any hazardous situations could be closely monitored and controlled and not in a countryside location nearby to residential properties and she urged the committee to refuse the application.  

At the conclusion of debate, the committee agreed to grant permission for the reasons and subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the Report and the Update Sheet, subject to the following: an addition to condition 13 regarding landscaping, to include details of mature planting on the northern boundary also to be submitted to the Local Planning Authority for approval prior to development taking place; and an additional condition 16 to read that ‘once the 25 year temporary permission ceases, all equipment to be removed from the site and land to be restored to formed use as agricultural land. The scheme to be submitted and agreed by the Local Planning Authority no later than three months prior to the cessation date and to include details of the proposed removal of the perimeter fencing, cabling and underground features within the site. If the site fails to operate for six months, the restoration of the site shall be triggered unless prior agreement has been obtained from the Local Planning Authority.’ 

RESOLVED:

That the decisions taken on the Planning Applications in relation to those applications outside and inside the area of the South Downs National Park be agreed as set out in the decision relating to each item, subject to the following:

(i)            That in respect of item 7 (Hayden Barn Cottage, Hayden Lane, Warnford: Case number: SDNP/20/00708/FUL) permission be refused for the following reasons: the proposed siting of the stables, track and alteration of levels results in harm to the landscape character of this part of the South Downs National Park by reason of siting, scale and raised land which fails to reflect the context and type of landscape and special quality of this part of the South Downs National Park and fails to demonstrate a conservation based land management approach; contrary to policies SD4 and SD24 of the South Downs National Park.

(ii)          That in respect of item 9 (24 Langton Close, Winchester - Case number: 20/00578/FUL) permission be refused for the reasons and subject to the informatives set out in the Report and in addition, the High Quality Places Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) HQP 2, 3 and 4.

(iii)         That in respect of item 12 (Land Adjacent to Kestral Rise, Pricketts Hill, Shedfield - Case number: 20/00883/FUL) permission be granted for the reasons and subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the Report, the Update Sheet and the verbal update above, subject to an additional informative stating that other operational development that requires planning permission should be sought prior to undertaking work ie. tents or any other operational work.

(iv)         That in respect of item 13 (Land South of Ash Farm, Titchfield Lane, Wickham - Case number: 19/02710/FUL) permission be granted for the reasons and subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the Report and the Update Sheet, subject to the following: an addition to condition 13 regarding landscaping, to include details of mature planting on the northern boundary also to be submitted to the Local Planning Authority for approval prior to development taking place; and an additional condition 16 to read that ‘once the 25 year temporary permission ceases, all equipment to be removed from the site and land to be restored to formed use as agricultural land. The scheme to be submitted and agreed by the Local Planning Authority no later than three months prior to the cessation date and to include details of the proposed removal of the perimeter fencing, cabling and underground features within the site. If the site fails to operate for six months, the restoration of the site shall be triggered unless prior agreement has been obtained from the Local Planning Authority.’