Issue - meetings

23/01236/FULM - Land to the South of Keelings Road, Dengie, Essex

 

 

Meeting: 12/03/2024 - District Planning Committee (Item 653)

653 23/01236/FULM - Land to the South of Keelings Road, Dengie, Essex pdf icon PDF 615 KB

To consider the report of the Director of Service Delivery, (copy enclosed, Members’ Update to be circulated)*.

Minutes:

Application Number

23/01236/FULM

Location

Land to the South of Keelings Road, Dengie, Essex

Proposal

Erection of a 19 MW Solar PV Array, comprising ground mounted solar PV panels, with co-located 5 MW battery energy storage system (BESS), vehicular access from Keelings Road, internal access tracks, landscaping and associated infrastructure including security fencing, CCTV cameras, and grid connection infrastructure including transformers, substation compound buildings and cabling route to the point of connection

Applicant

BSR Energy

Agent

Mr Dale Greetham – ADAS Planning

Target Decision Date

21.03.2024

Case Officer

Kathryn Mathews

Parish

DENGIE

Reason for Referral to the Committee / Council

A 19MW solar farm is a development of strategic interest as defined in the Council’s Scheme of Delegation

Member Call-in by Councillor A S Fluker referencing Policies D1, D2, D3, D4, E1, E4, E5 (3)

 

Following the Officer’s presentation, the Agent Mr Greetham addressed the Committee.

 

Prior to the debate opening, Councillor A S Fluker, having called in the application, made an opening statement. He raised various concerns regarding the development including the proposed screening of the site, the impact of construction traffic to the immediate and surrounding areas and he asked Members to consider imposing a condition that required the developer to repair damaged grass verges at the end of the construction period.

 

Councillor Fluker proposed to refuse the application contrary to the Officer’s recommendation on the basis that it was contrary to Policies S1, S8, D1, and D4 of the approved Maldon District Local Development Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework. There was no seconder.

 

At this point in accordance with his earlier declaration, Councillor Fluker left the Chamber and did not return.

 

The Chairperson moved the recommendation of approval as set out in the Officer’s report and this was duly seconded.

 

A lengthy debate ensued and in response to some queries raised the following information was highlighted:

 

·        Case Officers had visited the site to assess the impact to the countryside and Essex County Highways visited the site for them to assess the access to the site.

 

·        The applicants undertook a detailed landscaping visual impact assessment and Officer’s found that it was acceptable.

 

·        A condition to have the developer repair damaged grass verges could be imposed but would be difficult to enforce due to it being outside of the application site.

 

·        The landscape would be restored after 40 years which was the life of the project.

 

 

There being no further discussion the Chairperson put his earlier proposal to the Committee and upon a vote being taken this was agreed.

 

RESOLVED that the application be APPROVED subject to the following conditions:

 

1.         The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

2.         The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans:

•           Site location plan 0200-05 issue 06

•           Planning layout 0201-01 issue 14

•           Transformer station detail 1643-0207-00

•           Mounting system 0206-00

•           Fence details 0205-01

•           CCTV detail 0204-00 issue 02  ...  view the full minutes text for item 653