Decision details
Botley West Solar Farm - Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP).
Decision Maker: Development Control Committee
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Decisions:
Andrew Thomson, Lead Planning Policy and Implementation Officer, introduced the report, which explained the Development Consent Order (DCO) process for determining applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and to discuss the mechanisms for decision making on NSIP proposals.
Whilst it was accepted that there was no decision to be made at the meeting, it was noted that the Botley West Solar Farm NSIP, will potentially effect a number of parishes within West Oxfordshire and neighbouring districts.It was noted that Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) are projects of certain types, over a certain size, which are considered by the Government to be so big and nationally important that permission to build them needs to be given at a national level, by the responsible Government minister (the ‘Secretary of State’).
The Botley West Solar Farm proposal is the first NSIP to be proposed for West Oxfordshire. The proposal covers an area of approximately 1,400 hectares and affects a number of parishes. The developer for the proposed Botley West Solar Farm has published an indicative timetable for the DCO process, with submission of the application due in winter 2023. There are a number of key milestones during the process that must be met before the final application is submitted.
In debate, it was highlighted that the Secretary of State who’s responsibility the proposal will fall under will be The Rt. Hon Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Clarification was sought on which Committee of the Council was retain oversight of the proposals, and it was confirmed by the Lead Planning Policy and Implementation Officer that the Development Control Committee would be the Committee designated for consultation as appropriate, given that the applicant will apply for a Development Consent Order.
Members stated that there will need to be due diligence exercised by the Council as a Planning Authority, and that there may be a time where Council come to a view on the proposals. The evidence will be presented in various stages, and that Members will need to keep views to a lower profile, to aid the Council’s reputation as a planning authority. It was also highlighted that the discussion was to state the process for the proposals, rather than the proposal itself.
Councillor Andrew Beaney and rose to thank the Chair for her stewardship of the meeting given that the two Agenda Items were deemed as ‘hefty’ business. Councillor Beaney also highlighted that it was seen that there was not sufficient time for debate given that there was large public participation at the meeting, and that having two formal planning meetings on the same day did not help the Committee’s cause.
Councillor Richard Langridge proposed that the Committee note the content of the report, in line with Officer recommendations. This was seconded by Councillor Ted Fenton, was put to vote and was agreed unanimously by the Committee.
Committee Resolved to:
1. Note the information contained in the report.
Publication date: 20/04/2023
Date of decision: 27/03/2023
Decided at meeting: 27/03/2023 - Development Control Committee
Accompanying Documents:
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