Solar farm at Land To The South, South West And North West Of Malham Farm And North West Of Oakwood Farm Newpound Wisborough Green

What was proposed

A temporary solar farm would occupy six field parcels with panels, supporting infrastructure, access tracks, fencing, landscaping and underground cabling.

“The development of the solar farm will cover an area of approximately 25.65 hectares over six parcels of land (north east, north west and four southern). The parcels are connected by existing and proposed access tracks, or routes for underground caballing. The panels would be mounted on steel frames that contain the cabling, and the panels would be mounted in a double landscape layout with one panel above another.”

“There are three vehicle access points proposed, one off the B2133 and two off Drungewick Lane. The existing access to field one would be stopped up and replaced with a new access further south east along Drungewick Lane on its eastern site. An existing access on the east side of Drungewick Lane (opposite the proposed new access) would be widened to the south to avoiding existing trees north of the access, and this would serve field two.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

Earlier submissions concerned a solar farm proposal and an environmental impact assessment screening request for the site.

“24/00571/PRELMP Likely to receive officer support A solar farm (up to 20MWac) and associated infrastructure on land to the east of the B2133. The solar farm will comprise 6 distinct photovoltaic parcels (development zones) of land covering an area of approximately 25.6 hectares. The overall planning application area is circa 48.8 hectares, encompassing land for biodiversity net gain and landscape mitigation.”

“24/00604/EIA EIA not required Request for a formal screening opinion - Proposed solar photovoltaic farm (up to 20MWac) and associated infrastructure.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended deferral for a legal agreement followed by permission, because renewable energy benefits outweighed identified landscape, heritage and construction harms.

“Accordingly, the benefits arising from the proposal are of a significant magnitude to outweigh the modest to moderate harms identified in relation to landscape and heritage impacts and the short-term disruption from construction vehicles. There are no other material considerations that outweigh the benefits identified and on this basis the application is recommended for approval.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The committee heard from parish council representatives, objectors, a community organisation representative, the applicant and a ward member’s representative.

What members debated

Members discussed heritage, ecology, equestrian safety, fencing, highways, noise, archaeology, public rights of way, conditions, future use and battery storage.

“Addressing concerns raised regarding the impact on listed buildings and heritage assets within the area, [name withheld] assured the Committee these had been fully considered. A detailed heritage assessment had been submitted as part of the application. The assessment had been reviewed by the Heritage Officer, whose comments were included within the report. Officers were satisfied that the development would not have an unacceptable impact on heritage assets within the area.”

“[name withheld] agreed a condition to prevent any future battery storage on site could be added to the recommendation if members wished. He explained officers had not included the condition as any such storage would require a separate planning application.”

Minutes

The vote

Members voted to support deferral for the legal agreement followed by permission, including amendments to construction controls and a battery-storage condition.

“Cllr Burton suggested the application be deferred to allow WSCC Highways to undertake a site visit. However, after listening to officers who explained why WSCC did not undertake a site visit and why they were not required to undertake a site visit, she confirmed she did not wish to make a proposal.”

“Following a vote by show of hands the Committee agreed to support the officer’s recommendation to defer for S106 then permit, including the amendments to Condition 7 regarding a waiting area, no construction during key events, the closure of the public right of way and an additional condition to prevent battery storage.”

Minutes

What was decided

The committee resolved to defer the application for the legal agreement and then permit it subject to the report’s conditions, amendments and a new battery-storage condition.

“Resolved: defer for S106 then permit, subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report and the amendments to Condition 7 and the new condition to prevent battery storage.”

Minutes