Issue - meetings

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that in respect of application 3/24/1953/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to a suitable legal agreement and subject to the conditions set out at the end of the report.

The Principal Planning Officer highlighted the location of the site and presented a series of plans, images, aerial photos and elevation drawings. He drew the attention of Members to the agricultural character of the land and how the site was designated as part of the rural area beyond the green belt in the District Plan.

The Principal Planning Officer summarised in detail the key features and elements of the application and set out in detail the main issues for Members to consider when determining the application. He said that several appeal decisions had established that Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS should be viewed as low carbon and renewable energy infrastructure. Members were advised that BESS infrastructure attracted significant positive from both local and national policy.

The Principal Planning Officer summarised the documents that had accompanied the application and Members were advised that these had been summarised in the report. He said that vehicular movements would be low during the operational phase of the proposed development.

Members were advised that during the construction phase, it was proposed that light goods vehicles would access the site from the south via the A120 and Albury Road. It was proposed that HGVs would access the site from the north via Berden, Stocking Pelham and Ginns Road.

The Principal Planning Officer said that the applicant had discussed the HGV routes with the Highways Authority and had agreed to limit HGV visits to the site to twice daily. The applicant had agreed to widen the road in several locations to allow vehicles to pass each other. Hertfordshire Highways had confirmed that the proposed routes for construction vehicles were safe and usable for construction vehicles and Members were advised that the specific details of highway works would be secured by condition.

The Principal Planning Officer said that a noise impact assessment had been submitted. He said that Environmental Health Officers had reviewed this document and had indicated that with appropriate noise mitigations in place, the development would not result in material adverse impacts on nearby properties by virtue of noise generation.

Members were advised that numerous safety features and various other measures had been included in an outline battery safety management plan and Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue had not objected to the proposed development. The final version of the plan would be agreed by the council and Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue by condition.

Members were advised that there were several other proposals in the area for low carbon and renewable infrastructure. The Committee were reminded that this current application must be considered on its own merits.

The Principal Planning Officer said that Officers considered that the significant benefits associated with the provision of low carbon and renewable technologies would outweigh any limited harm arising from the proposed development.

Georgina  ...  view the full minutes text for item 406