Renewable energy park at Briddlesford Road, Isle Of Wight, Wootton

The site and its surroundings

The 32.5-hectare site would contain solar panels north of Whiterails Road and battery storage south of it, within a rural agricultural area near woodland.

“The application site covers an area of 32.5 hectares. The site would be in two sections, on either side of Whiterails Road. Solar panels would be sited on 27.2 hectares of agricultural land to the north of the road, and a compound for battery storage would be located within 5.3 hectares of agricultural land to the south.”

“The site is located approximately 100 metres (m) from the southern end of the settlement boundary of Wootton, within an area that has a predominantly rural agricultural character. The roads around and across the site are busy through routes without pavements. Field boundaries are generally relatively low-level…”

Officer report

Why it was reconsidered

The application was reconsidered after an earlier committee decision was quashed because information about battery fire risk had not been provided to councillors.

“Ann Braid Reason for Planning Committee consideration This application was originally considered by committee on the 5 September 2023, but following a legal challenge that decision was quashed, as it was considered that information about fire risk was not provided to councillors. It is therefore appropriate for the application to be redetermined with this information in front of the committee.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended conditional permission with a legal agreement for rights-of-way improvements and a permissive path, alongside controls for landscaping, drainage, ecology, fire safety and noise.

“Recommendation Conditional permission, subject to a Section 106 Agreement to secure a contribution towards enhancements to the local Rights of Way network and the provision of a permissive path through the site to link to these.”

“Landscaping • Construction Environment Management Plan • Drainage and flood measures • Temporary consent • Archaeology • Right of way • Ecology • Fire Safety • Operational noise • Tree and hedgerow protection…”

Officer report

Who spoke at the meeting

Three objectors and two people representing the applicant spoke, while a local member also addressed the committee after declaring a family business connection.

What members considered

Members discussed the ancient woodland buffer, fire risk, firewater collection and drainage, while officers confirmed the submitted mitigation and consultation responses.

“Concern was raised regarding the test required to rule out any harm to designated sites, in particular the ancient woodland. Members sought clarification as to whether a 50m buffer would be required adjacent to the Ancient Woodland, and officers confirmed that the application included a 25m buffer, that Natural England and the Environment Agency had been consulted on the application and had raised no objections to the development.”

“The Committee asked if fire concerns had been overcome following the Judicial Review application, Officers advised that detail had been provided by way of a fire risk assessment to address the issues raised, which the fire officer had seen sight of. Officers also confirmed that measures had been put in place to collect any water used to extinguish a fire at the battery storage site.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee approved the application in accordance with the officer’s report and amended the decommissioning condition to require restoration details within 39 years and six months after electricity generation begins.

“THAT the application be approved in accordance with the officer’s report…”

“Amended Condition: Within a period of 39 years and 6 months following the date electricity is first generated to the grid, the details and a scheme for the decommissioning of the solar farm and its ancillary equipment, and…”

Minutes