Agenda item
24/03278/FUL Land (e) 431186 (n) 208772 Witney Road
Minutes:
James Nelson, Principal Planner presented the application for the construction and operation of a ground-mounted solar farm with battery energy storage system (BESS) and associated infrastructure, access, ancillary works and landscaping.
The Principal Planner’s presentation addressed the following points:
- The Principal Planner brought the members attention to the additional representations report which included an additional letter of objection to the application from Mr and Mrs Matthews which had been circulated to members and was available to view on the council’s website.
- The site was made up of 6 fields which were situated to the south of the A40 road and North of Witney Road. The fields were irregular form and undeveloped fields. Established hedgerows retained boundary vegetation and the fields were set back from the roads.
- The buffer zone would be extended with mitigation planting to contain the site. This also included woodland screening. A Landscape review had been included in the application.
- The solar panels would be 3 meters in height on racks with a substation infrastructure. The site would be surrounded by a fence and CCTV.
Amanda and Richard Matthews spoke in objection the application which raised the following points: A letter from John Sutton had been circulated to members which highlighted concerns of the impacts on the spring and stream on the Caswell house site and risk to the water spring.
Aiden Van de Weyer, agent for applicant addressed the sub-committee which raised the following points: there were detailed conditions as part of the officer’s report to cover potential risks with the operation of the site. The applicant had submitted a comprehensive design to deal with any hazards, including ongoing monitoring the water from the spring, landscape and ecology.
Members asked the speaker if there were emergency plans in place in case of an event and if the BESS could be relocated. The speaker confirmed that various sites had been looked at for the BESS and found the current location was the best option.
The Principal Planner’s presentation addressed the following points:
- Drainage strategy had been submitted with documents. There were no objections from the Oxfordshire County Council flood risk officer.
- The application was in line with policy EH6 and the principle of the application was supported with the preservation of the landscape and benefits of low carbon energy provision and storage.
- The application had allowed for mitigated impacts on landscape with preservation of hedgerows and additional planting, extension of boundary and the connectivity for wildlife.
- No objections had been received on heritage grounds and the recommendation was for approval subject to the S106 agreement, with condition 8 wording to be updated in order to ensure baseline and ongoing testing and monitoring of the private water supply serving Caswell House and additional conditions recommended by the LLFA.
The Chair invited the Sub-Committee to discuss the application which raised the following points:
- Members raised concerns about the monitoring of construction traffic and potential waste matters such as dust and construction waste which could contribute to water sources being contaminated. The Principal Planner explained that Highways had not suggested a construction traffic management plan as the site was close to a main road network with access off the A40 from the new roundabout.
- Members asked about the risk of fire at the substation and how it could be contained. The Chair explained the process for tackling a fire and containing it within the BESS unit. There were concerns that the materials used to tackle a potential fire could contaminate the water supply. The Principal Planner confirmed there was a condition in the report which ensure the safety measures taken in the event of a fire.
- Members raised concerns about the location of the BESS and the solar farm and the potential harms that Caswell House and the surrounding environment could be exposed to should there be a fire or water contamination event. Councillor Nick Leverton proposed the Sub-Committee refuse the application on the grounds that the application had failed to demonstrate an appropriate impact on the water supply serving Caswell House in accordance with policies OS2 and EH8. This was seconded by Councillor Steve Cosier and put to the vote.
Voting Record – 9 for, 1 against, 2 abstentions.
The Sub-Committee Resolved to
- Refuse the application on the grounds that the application had failed to demonstrate an appropriate impact on the water supply serving Caswell House in accordance with policies OS2 and EH8.