Agenda item

Recommended for Approval.

Mr Amico addressed the Committee in objection to the application.  Mr Livings spoke for the application.

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that in respect of application 3/15/2254/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

Councillor P Kenealy, as the local ward Member, addressed the Committee regarding a number of benefits of the application.  He stated that the solar farm would be 50% of the size of the previously refused scheme and there would be no light pollution.  He commented that the site could be restored to agricultural use at any time and there were no alternative brownfield sites.  He concluded by referring to the overwhelming local support for the proposed development.

The Head of Planning and Building Control confirmed that the site had been reduced since the previously refused application.  The site had been reduced from 17 to 7 hectares or the equivalent of 10 megawatts to 5 megawatts of energy.  A number of landscape impacts had been addressed and national and local policy supported renewable energy in principle, subject to the landscape impacts.

The Head advised that the visual impacts on public rights of way had been reduced and Officers felt that the benefits of the scheme outweighed the harm and Members had to make a judgement on the acceptability of this revised application.

The Head responded to queries from Councillors R Brunton, M Casey and J Kaye regarding government policy, brownfield sites and agricultural land in East Herts as well as the possibility of glare.  Members were advised that Hertfordshire had high quality agricultural land and there was no lesser quality land available.  The solar farm was not a permanent feature and some grazing would still be possible.

The Head confirmed that the solar farm should not generate glare and if there was this would only be visible from a few points on distant rights of way.  Members were given a detailed breakdown of the locations of the public rights of way and the potential for the site to be viewed from them.  The Head stated that the site had moved onto a higher plateau and the screening planting would take time to mature.

Councillor M Freeman highlighted a point made by Officers in the report that the Housing and Planning Act 2016 made it increasingly unlikely that any large brownfield sites would be used for the generation of renewable energy in East Herts.  He referred to recent facts regarding tackling emissions and global warming and he felt that Officers had summed up the situation well in paragraph 1.4 of the report submitted.

Councillor J Jones referred to the fact the size of the proposed solar farm site had reduced from 17 to 7.7 hectares.  He commented however, that the landscape impact was unchanged hence the recommendation for refusal from the Landscape Officer.  He stated that the application was against NPPF policy and the solar farm would be better located adjacent to a motorway as was the case elsewhere nationally.

The Director stated that there were extensive conditions and the site had been scaled back to the east with this area due to be taken up by planting.  Officers could not condition against or prevent further applications being made and the fact that the proposed location had moved onto a flat plateau away from the more visible parts of the site was an argument against any future applications.

Councillor D Andrews commented that this was a much improved application and more sustainable forms of non-hydrocarbon based energy sources were needed.  He concluded that whilst this was a sensitive application he felt that overall he was able to support it.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the Committee accepted the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Building Control as now submitted.

RESOLVED – that in respect of application 3/15/2254/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report.