Agenda, decisions and minutes

**Please note: The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 21 November 2023 are to follow.

The Committee were advised that due to the reduced time between committees, the Minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee of 21 November 2023 would be presented for approval at the Strategic Planning Committee of 23 January 2024.

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 receive communications from the Chair.

The Committee were advised to disregard any lobbying material presented to them from the public gallery.  The Agenda and the Supplemental Information distributed to members would be the subject of discussion of the meeting.

Refused, reasons to be set out in the Minutes.

The Committee considered the construction and operation of an anaerobic digestion facility, ancillary infrastructure, landscape planting and the construction of a new access road and access from the B4031.

The Principal Planning Officer outlined the information in the report and provided a presentation which included maps, plans, site layout and photographs from various viewpoints to provide contextual information.

Sue Rickets addressed the Committee in objection to the application, raising concerns regarding; the operational hours, the intensity and longevity of the plant’s operation; the traffic management on and off site and the associated road safety risks; the limitations of the Traffic Statement; the impact of additional large vehicles on the surrounding highways; the origin of the feedstock and the anticipation that it may not be sourced locally; and the requirement for installation of trief kerbing to ensure correct directional movement of site traffic.

Jon Williams addressed the Committee in objection to the application, raising concerns regarding; the proximity of the plant to his home; the increase in HGV vehicles passing his house; highways safety; the quality of the data provided by the applicant to support the application; increase in fossil fuel consumption; removal of high grade agricultural land; that the gestate figures had been underestimated which would require additional vehicle movement or the additional burn-off/flare of the excess gas; environment impact concerns; safety aspects and the absence of a HSE assessment of the site; pollution from particulate emissions; the visual impact on the greenfield site, mitigation measures would take 17 years to mature.

Councillor Ellis, Evenly Parish Council, addressed the Committee in objection to the application, raising concerns regarding; the scale, location and visual amenity; the interpretation of West Northamptonshire Councils Local Plan Policy SS2, EMP3 and EMP6; the increased heavy traffic; operational days and hours; effectiveness of the planting mitigation measures; and the safety of the site.

Councillor Breese, Middleton Cheney Ward, addressed the Committee in objection to the application, raising concerns regarding; the accuracy of the policies being applied to approve the application; the accuracy of the road transport survey; the classification of the site as a small farm; no contracts entered in to with farmers; unacceptable impacts on the area; insufficient data provided regarding pollution controls and mitigation; that the report, had omitted to fully address concerns for the committee to consider, with conditions being applied which left final decisions delegated to officers; absence of a S.106 agreement as requested by highways in their consultation response.

Councillor Breese summed up the policies pertinent to her objections: National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) paragraph 158, paragraph 56; West Northants Joint Core Strategy S1, S10, S11; added two quotes from the Inspector of the Greatworth appeal; ‘renewable does not give them primacy over other considerations’ and ‘the location is an unavoidable and very strong locational driver of being able to connect to the national grid’; the South Northamptonshire Council Local Plan part 2, ENP3, ENP6; and the Sustainability Test.

Alister Veitch, the Applicant, addressed the Committee in support of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 154.

Approved subject to conditions.

The Committee considered the renewable energy generating station comprising ground mounted photovoltaic solar arrays with primary substation, inverter stations, cabling, access gates, site access, internal tracks including infrastructure, security fencing, CCTV, landscaping and biodiversity enhancements.

The Principal Planning Officer provided the Committee with a verbal update.  Two late representations were received in objection to the application on the grounds of visual impact, construction noise, traffic blight, size of the application and the impact on the character of the area and affect the view from the hotel would have a detrimental effect on the business.  The Principal Planning Officer outlined the information in the report and provided a presentation which included maps, plans, site layout and photographs from various viewpoints to provide contextual information. 

Tania Mathias, the Agent, addressed the Committee in support of the application, and outlined; the design, delivery and benefits of the application; the suitability of the site; and the pressures to respond to the climate emergency;

During the course of the Committee, members gave consideration to:

·     The Landscape Ecological Management Plan (LEMP) to ensure that any ash trees that die back were replaced with a native species tree

·     The siting of solar panels on land designated as, Special Landscaped Area

·     The condition which would ensure the applicant contacted the Council with the proposed location, design, materials, and colour of the substation on site prior to commencement of works

·     The provision of 2.4 meter high, deer fencing, the inclusion of gaps to allow wildlife access.  Provision of signage with Contact information of the persons responsible for the site

·     Low grade agricultural land below the panels would be utilised for limited grazing

·     The topography of the land mitigating the visibility of the proposed PV panels

·     The proposed number movements on the site, post construction, and the proposed lighting

·     The biodiversity net gain

Councillor Gonzalez de Savage proposed that the application be approved, the proposition was seconded by Councillor James and on being put to the meeting was declared carried unanimously.

In reaching its decision, the Committee considered the case officer’s report and presentation, the public representations, and the Committee Updates.

Resolved: that Permission be granted subject to conditions withdelegated authority to the Assistant Director – Planning and Development to approve an amendment to conditions as deemed necessary.