Underground solar cable at Land North East Of Glaxo, Harmire Road, Barnard Castle

“This application seeks consent for the installation of an underground cable and associated infrastructure to connect the solar farm approved by Planning Committee in January 2025 to its intended user, the significant local employer in Barnard Castle: GSK, formerly GlaxoSmithKline. The cable would cover a distance of around 550m.”

“The land between the approved site and GSK is in agricultural grazing use, bisected by both the presence of a disused railway line which sits on embankments and in a cutting now used as a footpath and a small watercourse called Black Beck which runs under the railway embankment.”

“The former railway line is crossed by a stone railway bridge, that along with the physical remains of the line, can be considered non-designated heritage assets. Footpath 4 of Streatlam & Stainton Parish crosses over the bridge. South of the bridge a major infrastructure project to install a below-ground pipeline from Lartington Water Treatment Works to Shildon Service Reservoir and associated works has recently been implemented.”

“DM/23/02510/FPA: Construction of a solar farm of circa 16MW, Battery Energy Storage System, and associated infrastructure. Approved Committee 10 January 2025.”

“DM/21/04293/FPA: Installation of below ground pipeline from Lartington Water Treatment Works to Shildon Service Reservoir and associated works. Approved Committee 26 January 2022.”

“This Planning Balance considers the principle of development and the Policy requirements, weighing the identified harms set out above, and weighting them against the benefits of the scheme. In simplistic terms, the assessment of the Planning Balance for this application relates to whether harms to the multifaceted values of the countryside are outweighed by the benefits of the development.”

“The identified harms or potential harms: to the character and appearance of the countryside during construction and decommissioning (including the higher level test required by the AHLV status of the area), by degree from the low levels and nature of construction traffic associate with such, from the potential for excavation works to affect drainage; from the potential for works to affect flora and fauna; potential for construction works to disturb contamination; and…”

“Councillor Stephenson left the meeting and did not return.”

“Councillor Elmer advised that this was an important application which proceeded the initial application in March 2025. It was fantastic to see the Applicant decarbonising their production process by 51%. It would be absurd to refuse the application as it was required for the scheme to proceed. He advised that the solar panels would allow animals to continue to graze and moved a motion to approve the application, which was seconded by Councillor Schulman.”

“That application be APPROVED subject to the conditions outlined in the report.”