Construction traffic route at Land to the west of Cowbridge Road, Bicker, Boston

Changing the lorry route condition

The application sought to vary a condition controlling the route of construction HGVs for an approved solar farm, to match the already approved Construction Management Plan.

“The Planning Officer presented the application. Members were reminded that planning permission had been granted in July 2023 for a 49.95MW photovoltaic solar array, grid connection, battery storage and associated development.”

“Members were advised that the applicant sought to vary Condition 7 to bring the routing requirements into alignment with the approved Construction Management Plan (CMP), which already allowed for more flexible routing options depending on the phase of construction.”

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Called in over resident concerns

A ward member called in the application because of resident concerns about amenity and the cumulative impact of long-running construction traffic.

“The application had been called in by Councillor James Cantwell, Ward Member, due to concerns raised by residents regarding amenity and the cumulative impacts of traffic associated with long-running infrastructure projects on Bicker Fen.”

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Residents and the applicant's agent spoke

Objecting residents and the parish council chair described ongoing harm from construction traffic, while the applicant's representative said works were nearly complete and safe.

Members weighed amenity against officer advice

Members acknowledged the officer and Highway Authority assessment but gave significant weight to residents' ongoing experience of disturbance on Cowbridge Road.

“The Committee acknowledged the officer assessment and the Highway Authority’s conclusion that the revised routing would not result in an unacceptable safety risk. However, Members gave significant weight to the loss of amenity that residents had experienced over time.”

“Members questioned whether relaxing routing controls at this late stage of the project would undermine the protection intended by the original condition. They also explored the extent to which the Highway Authority had visited the site, undertaken independent monitoring, or held records of difficulties on the routes.”

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A motion for refusal

A motion for refusal of the application was proposed and seconded.

“A motion for refusal of the application was proposed by Councillor Claire Rylott and seconded by Councillor Lina Savickiene.”

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Refused over amenity impact

The application was refused because the revised routing would cause adverse and unacceptable impacts on the amenity of homes along Cowbridge Road, contrary to local plan policies.

“That application B/25/0356 be refused on the grounds that the proposed variation of Condition 7 would result in adverse and unacceptable impacts to the amenity of residential dwellings along Cowbridge Road, contrary to the requirements of Policies 2 (criterion 6), 3 (criterion 11) and 31 (criterion 2) of the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan.”

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