Agenda item

Recommended for Approval

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that in respect of application 3/18/1399/VAR, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

The Chairman and the Head of Planning and Building Control summarised the application.  The Head advised that the principal issue for Members was in relation to the extended harm to the landscape, given that the solar farm was already in place on this site.

Members should balance the extended harm against the extended renewable energy provision in line with renewable energy policies.  The Head emphasised that a deadline end date still applied and the applicant would be required to return the land to its original use.

Councillor D Andrews stated that he believed that the balance of considerations was quite close.  He questioned why the application to extend the deadline had been made so early on prior to the deadline on the original application.

The Chairman commented that decisions on extensions of such deadlines were often made on a commercial basis rather than in relation to planning matters.  Members must decide whether there was more harm than good or good than harm when making a decision on this application.  The Head confirmed that applications of this nature were often made for financial rather than planning reasons.

Councillor D Andrews stated that he would have preferred to be considering an extension of time much closer to the original deadline.  He commented that the solar photovoltaic panels had only been in place for 2 years and had probably been operating for less than that.  He referred to his sense of discomfort with this application and he was supportive of much of what had been said by Great Munden Parish Council.  He referred to the well balanced nature of the report prepared by the Officer.

Councillor J Kaye commented that a key issue was one of landscaping, given that the approved landscaping scheme that was intended to screen the ground-mounted solar panels had not yet reached maturity.  He referred to solar farms where a longer end date had been given at the outset rather than an application being submitted to extend a shorter deadline as with this application.

Councillor J Jones referred to apparent non-compliance with landscaping conditions and he queried whether this could be tightened up with stronger conditions.  The Chairman stated that the solar farm already had planning permission and whilst the previous conditions could be enforced, new conditions could not now be applied.

The Head confirmed that Members could not attach new conditions.  Members were advised that the planting period had not commenced when the matter was mentioned to Officers.  The planting period had now commenced, however, and Officers would monitor the position although they had no reason to believe that the condition would not be adhered to by the applicant.

The Head confirmed to Councillor J Jones that an informative could be attached to the planning permission reminding the applicant in respect of the compliance with the planning conditions regarding landscaping.  Councillor M Casey commented that he saw no reason to object to the application given that technology in 40 years might very likely have moved on from the current position.

Councillor J Jones proposed and Councillor M Casey seconded, a motion that in respect of application 3/18/1399/FUL, the Committee support the recommendation for approval, subject to the conditions detailed in the report submitted and an informative regarding the completion of landscaping.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.  The Committee supported the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Building Control as now amended.

RESOLVED – that in respect of application 3/18/1399/VAR, planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions detailed in the report submitted and an informative regarding completion of landscaping.