24MW solar farm with battery storage at Land To The West Of Ware Ware Park Farm, Ware

What was proposed

The application proposed a circa 24MW solar farm with battery storage, panels, access tracks, cabling, fencing, a substation and related infrastructure.

“Solar PV modules mounted onto arrays; • Battery Storage System (BESS); • Inverter/ Transformer units; • Access tracks; • Onsite cabling; • Fencing and security measures; and • Substation.”

Officer report

What people said

Most representations supported the proposal for its renewable energy and environmental benefits, while objections concerned Green Belt, agriculture, landscape, traffic, noise, ecology and cabling.

“The land is not used for food production as it is set aside and is low grade • Solar panels would make a productive use of the land • Benefit of power generation to grid and local business • Environmental benefits of creating renewable energy • Given the climate change emergency, the proposal is welcomed • Visual impact will be minor – screening proposed is appropriate • Solar farms can provide havens for wildlife • The proposal will improve biological diversity, moving…”

“The land is green belt and performs and important function as open countryside • The proposal would result in the loss of agricultural land and threaten food security • The proposal would have an adverse landscape impact • The cumulative effect of similar applications on green belt in Hertfordshire is damaging • The proposal industrialises the land • Solar energy should be achieved on previously developed land and on buildings • The proposal would bring the planning system…”

Officer report

Who spoke

Two supporters addressed the committee and answered members’ questions.

What members discussed

Members discussed decommissioning, views from Westmill, future housing, panel visibility, glint and glare, and fire-water containment around the battery storage.

“Councillor Stowe asked if there would be a bund around the site of the battery storage to ensure that the ground around the site was not contaminated by water in the event of this being used to fight a fire. The Principal Planning Officer said that there were regulations covering the fire risk and battery energy security systems and this was covered by a condition requiring the applicant to submit details for an emergency plan in the event of fire.”

“Councillor Stowe said that there was limited detail about how a bund could be provided around the battery energy storage in the event of a fire to contain the water. The Interim Team Leader (Strategic Applications) said that officers had recommended a condition in discussion with Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue and this condition had to be necessary and the detail that was being sought would be available when the conditions were discharged and this was a much smaller battery…”

Minutes

The vote

A motion to grant permission subject to the report’s conditions was proposed, seconded and carried.

“Members had a general discussion around the conditions and Officers responded to questions about the proposed conditions. Councillor Dunlop proposed and Councillor Devonshire seconded, a motion that application 3/24/1275/FUL be granted planning permission subject to the conditions set out at the end of the report.”

“After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.”

Minutes

The decision

Planning permission was granted subject to the conditions set out at the end of the report.

“RESOLVED – that application 3/24/1275/FUL be granted planning permission subject to the conditions set out at the end of the report.”

Minutes