Agenda and minutes
PDF 57 KBVenue: Committee Room 1, Council Offices, Woodgreen, Witney, Oxfordshire OX28 1NB. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services
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Election of Chair Purpose: To elect a chair for the Civic Year 2025/26
Recommendation: That the Chair of Lowlands Area Planning Sub-Committee be elected for the Civic Year 2025/26. Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Michael Brooker, Vice-Chair of Development Control Committee opened the meeting and asked for nominations for the Chair of Lowlands Area Planning Sub-Committee.
Councillor Brooker proposed that Councillor Andy Goodwin be elected as Chair of the Lowlands Area Planning Sub-Committee for the municipal year 2025 – 2026. This was seconded by Councillor David Melvin.
With no other nominations made, the proposal was put to the vote and was unanimously agreed by the Sub-Committee.
The Sub-Committee Resolved to:
Elect Councillor Andy Goodwin as the Chair of Lowlands Area Planning Sub-Committee for the municipal year 2025-2026. |
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Appointment of Vice-Chair Purpose: To appoint a Vice-Chair for the Civic Year 2025/26.
Recommendation: That a Vice-Chair of the Lowlands Area Planning Sub-Committee be appointed for the Civic Year 2025/26. Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Alistair Wray proposed that Councillor Michael Brooker be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Lowlands Area Planning Sub-Committee for the municipal year 2025-2026. This was seconded by Councillor Phil Godfrey. With no other nominations made, the proposal was put to a vote and was unanimously agreed by the Sub-Committee.
The Sub-Committee Resolved to:
Councillor Julian Cooper addressed the Sub-Committee and paid tribute to the memory of Councillor Brenda Smith who had previously Vice-Chaired the Lowlands Area Planning Sub-Committee from 1992 to 1994 and 2007 to 2010. Councillor Brenda Smith was a member of the Council from 1986 to 2010.
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Apologies for Absence To receive any apologies for absence from members of Sub-Committee. The quorum for the Sub-Committee is 4 members. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Rachel Crouch, Andrew Prosser, Adrian Walsh and Steve Cosier.
Councillor Ruth Smith Substituted for Councillor Crouch Councillor Sandra Simpson Substituted for Councillor Prosser. Councillor Paul Marsh Substituted for Councillor Cosier. |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of interest from members of the Sub-Committee on any items to be considered at the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest were received from
Councillor Paul Marsh declared that the application was in his ward, however he had not predetermined it.
Councillor Sarah Veasey declared that the proposed route would run through her ward but she had not predetermined it. |
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Minutes of Previous Meeting To approve the minutes of the previous meeting, held on Monday 7 April 2025. Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Sarah Veasey proposed that the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 7 April 2025 be agreed by the Sub-Committee as a true and accurate record. This was seconded by Councillor Alistair Wray, was put to the vote and was agreed unanimously by the Sub-Committee.
The Sub-Committee Resolved to:
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Applications for Development Purpose: To consider applications for development, details of which are set out in the attached schedule.
Recommendation: That the applications be determined in accordance with the recommendations of the Head of Planning.
Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair advised the Sub-Committee that the application for Rainbow Farm, Buckland Road, Bampton had been withdrawn.
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University Farm, Witney Road, Hailey Additional documents: Minutes: James Nelson, Principal Planner, presented the application for the installation and operation of a renewable energy generating station comprising of ground-mounted photovoltaic solar arrays and battery-based electricity storage containers together with switchgear container, inverter/transformer units, site access, internal tracks, security measures, access gates, other ancillary infrastructure and landscaping and biodiversity enhancements.
The Principal Planner explained that the application had come before the Sub-Committee on Monday 7 April and the application had been deferred for consultation with Oxfordshire County Council Highways, who hadindicated that the route was an issue, and proposed an alternative route via B4022 to be required in the CTMP.
The Principal Planner’s presentation addressed the following points: · The application was deferred at April’s meeting to allow for further consideration to be given to the proposed construction access route. · The application sought permission for the installation and operation of a renewable energy generating station with site access and ancillary infrastructure. · The site would be split into 3 parts Northeast of Witney, East of Hailey and Poffley End and Southwest of New Yatt and North Leigh covering 99.68 ha. · The Hailey Conservation Area, with several listed buildings was west of the site, including Swan Hall Farm. A public right of way to the north of the site and bridleways to the south and east of the site. · There had been objections raised by Ramsden Parish Council regarding the suggestion of routing traffic through the village. · Changes from the previous application included: significant reduction of panels in field 1; significant reduction in the north of field 3; western side of field 4 in the Swan Field Farm conservation area the panels would be set back from hedgerows; and an increase in the buffer zone from New Yatt Road. · Enhancement measures included significant areas of planting at the north boundary of the public right of way; significant enhancements to the west of field 4 to mitigate views across the conservation area. The height of fencing and ancillary infrastructure was clarified. · Various construction access routes; Route 1 A4095 from North Leigh, would access the site at New Yatt Road; Route 2 From A44 at Enstone, through Charlbury, Finstock and Ramsden; Route 3 Via the double round-a-bout at Witney and north towards the site.
Robert Gunn, North Leigh Council, addressed the Sub-Committee in objection to the application which raised the following points: Highlighted the transportation of vehicles; the number of journeys to and from the site, the width of the roads, routes 1 and 3 would not have passing places; there would be multiple traffic lights in North Leigh which would cause increased traffic problems and delays.
BenteKleine, RWE, Development Project Manager, addressed the Sub-Committee in support of the application which raised the following points: The project would achieve climate and energy targets and provide electricity to 15,000 houses within Oxfordshire, result in a 104% biodiversity net gain, provision of a community benefit fund of up to £462k and a community orchard. She confirmed that the route via A4095 would ... view the full minutes text for item 18. |
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Rainbow Farm, Buckland Road, Bampton Additional documents: Minutes: Application was withdrawn. |
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Applications Determined under Delegated Powers Purpose: To inform the Sub-Committee of applications determined under delegated powers.
Recommendation:
Additional documents: Minutes: The report giving details of the applications determined under Delegated Powers was received, explained by the officers and noted by the Sub-Committee.
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Purpose: To inform the Sub-Committee of any appeal decisions.
Recommendation: 1. That the report be noted by the Sub-Committee. Additional documents: Minutes: The report giving details of the appeals was received, explained by the officers and noted by the Sub-Committee.
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