Underground solar cable at Land At Watlington Road, Cowley, Oxford

What was proposed

The application sought an underground high-voltage cable linking a consented solar farm to the local electricity distribution network.

“Proposal Installation of an underground high voltage cable to support solar farm (South Oxfordshire Reference P23/S4132/FUL)”

“RECOMMENDATION 1.1. Oxford City Council Planning Committee is recommended to: 1.1.1. approve the application for the reasons given in the report and subject to the required planning conditions set out in section 12 of this report and grant planning permission 1.1.2.”

Officer report

The site and route

About 400 metres of the wider route would run along Watlington Road, using trenches or horizontal directional drilling before land reinstatement.

“LEGAL AGREEMENT 3.1 This application is not subject to a legal agreement. 4. COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY 4.1 The proposal is not liable for a CIL payment. 5. SITE AND SURROUNDINGS 5.1 The application site comprises land along Watlington Road (B480), Cowley, including sections of highway, highway verge and adjacent land required for trenching and temporary works.”

“PROPOSAL 6.1 The proposal is part of a wider scheme to link the Burcott Solar Farm with the national grid at the Cowley Substation off Watlington Road. Approximately 400m of the 8.4km route is within the Oxford City Council administrative boundary along the Watlington Road (B480). The overall proposals include:”

Officer report

Relevant planning history

Earlier site decisions concerned telecommunications equipment, while a screening decision found that the proposed high-voltage cable did not require an environmental impact assessment.

“21/00780/T56 - Application for prior approval to install 1no. 20m telecommunications streetworks pole, 1no. equipment cabinet, 1no. meter cabinet and associated ancillary development.. Prior Approval Required 6th May 2021.”

“25/03072/SCREEN - Proposed high voltage cable to be installed between a permitted solar farm facility at Burcott Farm in South Oxfordshire (South Oxfordshire LPA ref: P23/S4132/FUL) and Cowley Local Substation in Oxford. Environmental Impact Assessment Not Required 31st December 2025”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the cable necessary renewable-energy infrastructure, with negligible permanent effects and temporary impacts capable of mitigation through conditions.

“The cable is integral enabling infrastructure for a consented solar farm. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) outlines that the planning system should support the transition to net zero by 2050 and take full account of all climate impacts. The NPPF continues to give strong emphasis to supporting renewable and low carbon energy and associated infrastructure. National and OLP Policy S1 give significant weight to renewable energy and associated grid connections.”

“As the cable is underground, permanent visual effects are negligible. Temporary visual effects during construction (fencing, plant, traffic…”

Officer report

Consultation and public views

Highways, Natural England, police, South Oxfordshire District Council and others raised no objections or had no comments, and no public representations were received.

“South Oxfordshire District Council has no in principle objection to the proposals within the City boundary.”

“South Oxfordshire District Council are currently considering a parallel planning application (P25/S3614/FUL) for the section of the high voltage cable within South Oxfordshire. It is likely that the applicant will be submitting further information with a view to addressing comments made by technical consultees. The target decision date will therefore be likely to be extended.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The planning officer presented the proposal, including its location, site photographs and plans.

Members’ questions

Committee members asked questions about the application, and officers responded to them.

“The Committee asked questions about the details of the application which were responded to by the officers.”

Minutes

The vote

The committee voted to support the officer recommendation to approve the application, subject to conditions.

“On being proposed, seconded, and put to the vote, the Committee agreed with the officer’s recommendation to approve the application for the reasons set out in the report and subject to conditions including the two additional conditions and a legal agreement.”

Minutes

The decision

Planning permission was approved, with authority delegated to finalise the recommended conditions.

“The Oxford City Planning Committee resolved to: 1. Approve the application for the reasons given in the report and subject to the required planning conditions set out in section 12 of this report and grant planning permission 2.”

Minutes