Issue - meetings

Recommended for Approval.

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that in respect of application 3/21/0969/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out at the end of the report.

The Principal Planning Officer set out the location of the site in the context of the Stocking Pelham Sub-Station. He summarised in detail the relevant planning history of the site and other sites in the immediate vicinity of the Stocking Pelham Sub-Station.

Members were shown a plan submitted by the Protect the Pelhams group which showed the district boundary between Uttlesford and East Herts and other BESS / solar application sites.

The Principal Planning Officer presented a series of visuals and photos from various compass points around the site. He summarised in detail the proposed construction access and advised that the proposals also included a construction access to the west, which would connect to an existing farm access on Ginns Road. Members were advised that to the north there was a proposed cable route to the Stocking Pelham Sub-Station, and to the south were two further proposed site accesses, one of which was for emergency access.

The Principal Planning Officer detailed the public rights way and public footpaths from which the site would be visible from longer distances. He set out in detail the proposed layout of the site and the specific details of the application.

The Principal Planning Officer summarised the proposed hedgerow and tree planting and the proposed wildflower meadow area in between the landscape boundary and the site itself. He said that there would be wildflower strips on the external edge of the landscaping adjacent to the public footpaths.

Members were shown visual representations of the proposed landscaping at 5 years and when fully established. The Principal Planning Officer explained that Officers had attributed moderate to minor harm in respect of the impact on landscape character in respect of the planning judgement on the planning balance.

Members were advised that that the routing for HGV construction vehicles was to the north via Stocking Pelham to the M11. Lighter goods vehicles would travel to the south down Ginns Road to connect with the A120.

The Principal Planning Officer said that the site was subject to considerable review by Hertfordshire Highways in respect of potential pinch points and how larger vehicles could get past. A detailed construction management plan had been submitted which assessed the pinch points and included details of mitigation measures, such as road widening, cutting pack vegetation to visibility splays, the relocation of manhole covers and new signage along Ginns Road.

Members were advised that there was a proposed condition requiring that the final version of a construction traffic management plan be submitted. This plan would also require that no more than two construction vehicles used the proposed route each day, and there would be restrictions on timing so that there would be no HGV movements at the drop off and pick up times for the nursery in Stocking Pelham.

The Principal Planning Officer showed Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 107