Solar farm and battery storage at Land North of Roxane, Armathwaite, Carlisle

What was proposed

The application sought a ground-mounted solar array, battery storage and associated infrastructure, connected directly to the nearby business for up to 40 years.

“The application is for full planning permission for the installation of a ground- mounted solar photovoltaic arrays, a co-located battery energy storage facility (BESS), and associated infrastructure.”

Officer report

The site

The proposal covered about 8.2 hectares of grazing land in open countryside on a relatively level shelf below Blaze Fell.

“The site area to accommodate the arrays and associated equipment (shaded red on the above inserted plans covers c.8.2ha. More specifically it is a relatively level area of land that projects outward from the southerly-facing slope of Blaze Fell. As a consequence the landform drops markedly beyond…”

“Aside from the applicant’s premises the area south of Blaze Fell is sparsely populated with a few farmsteadings dotted across the landscape and a modest number of dwellings ribboned along the highway running east-west off the A6. Wooded stands persist on the more inaccessible patches of the surrounding upland areas otherwise dominated by semi-improved farmland, chiefly livestock grazing especially on the more elevated slopes.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

The site had previously been considered through a screening opinion for a similar, larger project, which concluded environmental impact assessment was not required.

“The current proposal is not considered to represent ‘EIA Development’. Previously under ref. 2024/1123/SCREEN the Council had been requested to provide an EIA Screening Opinion for a project very similar albeit larger in area to that now being considered, on land consistent with the current site.”

“Officers submit now that given the congruency between the screened scheme (2023/0759/SCREEN) and the current proposal, and in the absence of any material change in land-use planning circumstances since 2023/0759/SCREEN, there is no good reason to now depart from that relatively recent ‘negative’ Screening Opinion.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant’s environmental and planning consultant spoke in support, highlighting decarbonisation, biodiversity gains, screening, reversibility and continued sheep grazing.

The committee vote

A councillor proposed the amended recommendation, another councillor seconded it, and members voted unanimously.

“Cllr Hughes proposed the amended recommendation which was seconded by Cllr Audland and put to a unanimous vote.”

“RESOLVED, that planning permission the GRANTED subject to the following conditions.”

Minutes