Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20 June 2023.

The Committee were advised of three amendments to the minutes of the meeting held on 20 June 2023:

·       Councillor Parker’s attendance be recorded.

·       The list of apologies should omit Councillor Bignell.

·       The decision for WND/2023/0155 Farthingstone Hotel and Golf Course, would read:

Prior to the commencement of works affecting any existing Public Right of Way, full details of any enhancement, improvement, signage, diversion or closure shall be submitted for the approval of the local planning authority.  To ensure that the Public Rights of Way remain accessible and safe for users throughout, and on completion of development.

Resolved: That, subject to the amendments above, the Minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee of 20 June 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Approved subject to conditions.

The Principal Planning Officer outlined the information in the report and provided a presentation which included maps, master plans, site layout, illustration of solar panels, panoramic views and photographs from various viewpoints overlooking the proposed site.

·       Badger gates would be included in the security fencing.

·       Access gates would be gated on completion.

·       Bio-diversity net gain, 36% on habitats and 11% for hedgerow.

·       Visual impact mitigation from additional planting and existing hedgerows.

The Development Management Manager outlined the benefit of attending a site visit for the development, to view topography of the landscape, the existing hedgerow, to determine any impact on the site and consider the landscaping measures proposed to mitigate the impact on the area. 

In determining the planning balance for the application, the Committees would need to refer to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), as referenced in the case officers report.

From November 2023 the environment act would introduce an automatic requirement for a biodiversity net gain of 10%.  The applicant had carried out a biodiversity net gain calculation and would provide 36% habitat units and 11% in hedgerow unit which was set out in Condition 16 of the report.

Further comments provided by CPRE in objection to the application were summarised in the supplementary information.

The Development Management Manager provided a verbal update to the Committee relating to two proposed amendments, for the Committees consideration.  That the Condition 17 would include:

·       a reference to hard landscaping

·       and an additional line referencing badger gates be included in the fencing

In response to members questions the Principal Planning Officer advised:

·       Access points would remain for decommissioning but would be gated.

·       the period of 40 years was an industry standard.

·       Land under the solar panels would remain in agricultural use and be used for grazing sheep.

In responses to members questions the Development Management Manager advised:

·       EDF had received a grid connection offer through the West Northampton substation.

Brian Skittrall addressed the Committee in objection to the application. Objections included, loss of agricultural land, climate change, food security, protected landscape, degradation of land, misleading carbon statistics, benefit insufficient to offset harm.

John Thomason, Flore Parish Council addressed the Committee in support of the application and requested that:

·       Should Photovoltaic systems improve, and fewer numbers be required to produce the output, that the panels planned for the land off Brinkton Road be excluded.

·       The new access be through Upper Heyford and that the watercourse be bridged to take large vehicles.

·       Ensure the solar farm was more eco-friendly.

John Smith addressed the Committee in support of the application and cited the improved biodiversity, the benefit to the eco system, reduction in chemicals on the land, improvement of the soil structure, the requirement to provide alternative power and the benefit to the Parish Council through long term commitment to community schemes.

In responses to members questions John Smith added:

·       A farmer would receive an annual rate from the solar production. That margins on farming were small and quoted that 95% of profits were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 133.