Underground electricity cable at Land Located Between Thaxted Substation And The Cutlers Solar Farm Site Cutlers Green Lane Thaxted

What was proposed

The application proposed a four-kilometre underground high-voltage cable, temporary construction compound and associated works connecting Cutlers Solar Farm to the national grid.

“The application seeks permission for the installation and operation of a 4 kilometre long underground high voltage (HV) electrical cable, including a temporary construction compound and associated works to connect a consented solar farm, known as ‘Cutlers Solar Farm’, to the national grid. Cutlers Solar Farm was allowed on appeal (ref. APP/C1570/W/23/3319421) on 18 th December 2023.”

“The underground HV electrical cable is proposed to connect into the existing Thaxted Substation, located to the northeast of Thaxted and Boyton End, approximately 3.2 km northeast of Cutlers Solar Farm. The cable corridor did not form part of the approved planning application, hence the need for separate planning permission to allow Cutlers Solar Farm to connect into the electricity grid.”

Officer report

The site

The route covered highways and agricultural land between Thaxted Substation and Cutlers Green, including two small watercourses and nearby isolated properties.

“The land on within the application site consists of approximately 1.4 km of highways and 2.6 km of agricultural fields, which are currently in arable rotation. The carriageway section of the cable route borders either farmland, residential dwellings or green open spaces with hedgerows, individual trees and tree groups present. Farmland sections of the cable route are generally alongside hedgerows with ditches and within ploughed fields.”

“The site is relatively isolated and well separated from residential areas except for a small stretch of properties in Cutlers Green and off the B1051 in Boyton End. There is a small number of stand-alone properties in close proximity to the Site on Watling Lane, as well as a few isolated farmsteads scattered within the vicinity.”

Officer report

Earlier solar farm permission

The related solar farm application was refused by the council but allowed on appeal, while the cable corridor required separate permission.

“Reference Proposal Decision UTT/21/1833/FUL Construction and operation of a solar farm comprising ground mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays and battery storage together with associated development, including inverter cabins, DNO substation, customer switchgear, access, fencing, CCTV cameras and landscaping. Refused. Allowed on appeal.”

Officer report

Public comments

Site notices, press advertising and letters were used, and no public representations were received.

“A site notice was displayed on site; the application was advertised in the local press and notification letters were sent to nearby properties. No public representations have been received in response.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent spoke on behalf of the applicant in support of the application.

Members’ discussion

Members discussed tree maintenance, decommissioning, construction management and the need to address archaeology concerns along the proposed route.

“Tree maintenance. • Decommissioning requirements. • CMP concerns. • The need for archaeology concerns to be fully addressed, particularly in respect of the proposed route being satisfactory.”

“Councillor Freeman proposed approval of the application with additional conditions in respect of tree maintenance, decommissioning requirements to be aligned to the main application and that a CMP would be included. In addition, archaeology concerns would be addressed.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee authorised conditional permission under the report’s conditions, with additional conditions covering tree maintenance, decommissioning, construction management and archaeology.

“RESOLVED that the Strategic Director of Planning be authorised to grant conditional permission for the development subject to those items set out in section 15 of the report, together with additional conditions listed above.”

Minutes