Five solar canopies at Mildenhall Hub, Mildenhall, Bury St Edmunds

What was proposed

The application sought five solar canopies, lighting, cabling and landscaping in the northern car park, with amended plans extending the site boundary.

“Planning permission is sought for five solar canopies and undermounted lighting within the northern car park of Mildenhall Hub. Permission is also sought for the associated cabling infrastructure and landscaping. The application was amended by plans received 28 January 2026, whereby the red line was extended to include the area of land designated for landscaping and Biodiversity Net Gain enhancements…”

“As part of the proposed development, there will be the removal of vegetation and the excavation of topsoil within the planting beds and swales in the northern car park area that will be covered by the solar canopies and replaced with gravel. The works will also include the removal of 26 saplings, which are to be replaced by 30 saplings within a designated area to the south of the site.”

Officer report

The site

The site is within the Mildenhall settlement boundary at Mildenhall Hub, with the canopies in the northern car park and planting to the south-west.

“The application site is situated within the Mildenhall settlement boundary, within the wider Mildenhall Hub site, Sheldrick Way. The canopies are to be located in the northern car park area, with the cabling connecting the canopies to the Hub complex to the south. An area to the south-west has been designated for landscaping and planting.”

Officer report

Earlier site history

Earlier permissions covered construction of Mildenhall Hub, changes to its conditions and layout, and roof-mounted solar panels.

“DC/19/0386/VAR Planning Application - (i) Variation of Condition 2 (approved plans) of DC/18/1489/VAR incorporating amendments to the SuDS, changes to external materials, minor internal layout changes, minor changes to vehicular and pedestrian routes within the site and associated landscaping revisions (ii) Variations of Application Granted 2 October 2019”

“DC/21/0537/P14JP A Prior Approval Application under Part 14 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 - Installation of 410 roof mounted solar photovoltaic panels to north western wing of building Not Required 24 June 2021”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval, finding the renewable energy benefits substantial and the design, amenity, highways, flooding and ecological effects acceptable.

“Hub, directly reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and supporting the transition to net zero, to which national policy now gives explicit emphasis in decision-taking (NPPF paragraphs 161 and 163). In determining applications for renewable and low-carbon energy, significant weight must be given to the benefits of generation and the proposal’s contribution to a net-zero future (paragraph 168(a)). These considerations are engaged here and attract substantial positive weight.”

“The proposal also accords with the relevant WSLP policies above, notably SP2, SP4, SP8, SP9, LP1, LP6, LP9, LP13 and LP44. The proposal therefore demonstrates acceptable design, highways, flooding and ecological impacts and is therefore recommended for approval.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Highways, public rights of way, flooding, fire, housing, environmental health, ecology and landscape consultees raised no objection, subject to stated conditions or advice.

“Private Sector Housing and Environmental Health Officer: No objection subject to conditions restricting construction hours, a construction management strategy and a condition restricting the installation of lighting.”

“Ecology and Landscape Officer: No objection subject to conditions requiring compliance with the mitigation and enhancement measures identified, protection of birds during construction, wildlife sensitive lighting, BNG compliance and LEMP submission.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant spoke in support, and the Senior Energy and Sustainability Officer answered questions about the saplings under public speaking arrangements.

Members’ debate

Members discussed bird protection, replacement planting, adding removed saplings to a compost pile and whether they could be offered for relocation.

“Members were informed that an ecologist had carried out an assessment on the saplings to be removed and had recommended that they were unlikely to be able to be successfully relocated, hence, the agreement to instead plant a replacement 30 saplings within a designated area to the south of the application site.”

“There was a further requirement via condition for the installation of a compost pile and the removed saplings would be added to that to contribute to the biodiversity enhancement measure.”

Minutes

The vote

A proposal to approve the application with amendments to five conditions was seconded and carried unanimously.

“Councillor David Smith proposed that the application be approved as per the Officer recommendation and inclusive of the amendments outlined to the five identified conditions. This was duly seconded by Councillor Carol Bull.”

“Upon being put to the vote and with the vote being unanimous, it was resolved that…”

Minutes

The decision

Planning permission was granted subject to conditions covering plans, construction, lighting, ecology, biodiversity gain and landscape management.

“Wheel washing facilities f. Measures to control the emission of dust and dirt during construction g. A scheme for recycling/disposing of waste resulting from demolition and construction works h. Hours of construction operations including times for deliveries and the removal of excavated materials and waste i. Noise method statements and noise levels for each construction activity including piling and excavation operations j.”

“No lighting shall be installed until a lighting design scheme (including temporary security lighting through the construction phase) for biodiversity has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.”

Minutes