Proposed ground mounted solar farm, associated works and ancillary infrastructure
Location: Defford Aerodrome, Rebecca Road, Besford, Worcester, WR8 9ES
Other planning applications at this location View location on mapApplication Type: Non-householder planning application
Parish: Besford, Defford
Ward: Eckington
Application Received: 13 June 2014
Statutory Start Date: 27 June 2014
Consultation Period From: 3 July 2014
Consultation Period End: 1 January 2015
Decision Date: 8 January 2015
Case Officer: Jonathan Edwards
Status: Decided
Decision: Approved - Planning application
This decision is subject to the following conditions:
The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.
Reason - In accordance with the requirements of Section 91 (1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by Section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
A) No development shall take place until a programme of archaeological work, including a Written Scheme of Investigation, has been submitted to and approved by the local planning authority in writing. The scheme shall include an assessment of significance and research questions; and: 1. The programme and methodology of site investigation and recording. 2. The programme for post investigation assessment. 3. Provision to be made for analysis of the site investigation and recording. 4. Provision to be made for publication and dissemination of the analysis and records of the site investigation 5. Provision to be made for archive deposition of the analysis and records of the site investigation 6. Nomination of a competent person or persons/organisation to undertake the works set out within the Written Scheme of Investigation. B) Within three months of the commencement of development the site investigation and post investigation assessment shall be completed in accordance with the programme set out in the Written Scheme of Investigation approved under part (A) and the provision made for analysis, publication and dissemination of results and archieve depsotion has been secured.
Reason - In accordance with the requirements of paragraph 141 of the National Planning Policy Framework.
All planting and seeding/turfing comprised in the submitted landscape scheme, hereby approved, shall be carried out in the first planting season following the commencement of the development or in accordance with a landscape implementation phasing programme that has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.
Reason - To protect and enhance the visual amenities of the area and to ensure the satisfactory development of the site - in accordance with Policy GD2, Policy ENV1 and Policy SUR2 of the Wychavon District Local Plan (June 2006).
No part of the development shall be commenced until a landscape management plan including long-term design objectives, management responsibilities and maintenance schedules for all landscape areas has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The landscape management plan shall be followed whilst the development hereby approved is present on the site. The landscape management plan shall include the following:-
a) Substantial areas of land managed to allow for skylark nesting. b) Substantial areas for winter foraging by skylarks, finches and buntings for the lifetime of the development. c) The range of other ecological enhancement options previously recommended in the EDP application submissions. d) Details of active monitoring measures such that land management prescriptions can react to changes in habitat and promote the best results for wildlife throughout the life of the development.
Reason - To protect and enhance the visual amenities of the area, to ensure the proposal includes adequate ecological mitigation/enhancement and to ensure the satisfactory development of the site - in accordance with Policy GD2, ENV1, ENV6, ENV7 ENV8 and Policy SUR2 of the Wychavon District Local Plan (June 2006).
If the solar farm hereby permitted is no longer required for the purposes of energy production, it shall be dismantled and all materials removed from site including the sun arrays and their supporting stands, fencing, access track and sub-stations and any other associated infrastructure/development within 4 months of the date of the cessation of the use.
Reason - To preserve the open character of the countryside and ensure that the land is restored to active agricultural use in accordance with saved Policies GD1, GD2 and ENV1 of the Wychavon District Local Plan (June 2006).
The uses hereby authorised shall be discontinued and the land restored to its former condition (apart from in terms of the proposed landscaping) on or before 25 years from the date of this permission.
Reason - To ensure the development has no long term impact on the visual amenities of the area and in line with advice on the planning practice guidance.
The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans:
Site location plan v 2 D.101 - DNO Detail D.102 - Fence and gate details D.103 Inverter Cabin Elect Outdoor D.104 - Control Room D.105 - Camera Detail D.106 - Customer Cabin D.107 - Structure Detail T200 General Site Plan T201 - Cable route Plan SNDSN1006-A-03.1 revision 5 SNDSN1006-A-04.1 revision 5 Plan EDP L5 Detailed Landscape & Ecology Strategy, sheet 1 of 5 Plan EDP L5 Detailed Landscape & Ecology Strategy, sheet 2 of 5 Plan EDP L5 Detailed Landscape & Ecology Strategy, sheet 3 of 5 Plan EDP L5 Detailed Landscape & Ecology Strategy, sheet 4 of 5 Plan EDP L5 Detailed Landscape & Ecology Strategy, sheet 5 of 5
Reason - To define the permission.
No part of the development hereby approved shall commence until details of:
1. the HGV delivery route signage from the A38/A4104 junction to and from the C2105/site access junction, and 2. signs providing warning of the construction site access on the C2105, and 3. signs prohibiting access to Solar Farm construction vehicles on the C2203 and the C2105 west of the site access
have been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. All approved signs shall be erected prior to commencement of any other part of the development and shall be maintained throughout the construction period.
Reason - In the interests of highway safety.
No part of the development hereby approved shall commence until a Construction Site Management Plan to include details of:
1. parking for site operatives and visitors, and 2. storage areas for plant and materials, and 3. areas for loading and unloading of delivery vehicles, and 4. parking facilities for HGV delivery vehicles waiting to enter the site, or unload within the site
has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. The approved Construction Site Management Plan shall be implemented prior to commencement of any other part of the development and shall be maintained throughout the construction period.
Reason - In the interests of highway safety.
No development shall take place until the following components of a scheme to deal with the risks associated with contamination of the site are submitted to and approved, in writing, by the local planning authority:
1) A preliminary risk assessment which has identified: " all previous uses " potential contaminants associated with those uses " a conceptual model of the site indicating sources, pathways and receptors " potentially unacceptable risks arising from contamination at the site.
2) A site investigation scheme, based on (1) to provide information for a detailed assessment of the risk to all receptors that may be affected, including those off site.
3) The site investigation results and the detailed risk assessment (2) and, based on these, an options appraisal and remediation strategy, if necessary, of the remediation measures required and how they are to be undertaken.
4) A verification plan providing details of the data that will be collected in order to demonstrate that the works set out in (3) are complete and identifying any requirements for longer-term monitoring of pollutant linkages, maintenance and arrangements for contingency action. This should include any proposed phasing of demolition or commencement of other works.
5) Prior to occupation of any part of the development (unless in accordance with agreed phasing under part 4 above) a verification (validation) report demonstrating completion of the works set out in the approved remediation strategy (3 and 4). The report shall include results of any sampling and monitoring. It shall also include a plan (a "long-term monitoring and maintenance plan") for longer term monitoring of pollutant linkages (to include frequency and location of monitoring; method and nature of sampling including analysis suite (determinands)), maintenance and arrangements for contingency action and for the reporting of this to the Local Planning Authority.
Any changes to these components require the express written consent of the Local Planning Authority. The scheme shall be implemented as approved.
Reason - To protect ground and surface waters ('controlled waters' as defined under the Water Resources Act 1991).
If during development, contamination not previously identified is found to be present at the site, then no further development (unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority) shall be carried out until the developer has submitted, and obtained written approval from the Local Planning Authority, a Method Statement for remediation. The Method Statement must detail how this unsuspected contamination shall be dealt with. A verification (validation) report demonstrating completion of the works set out in the method statement shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The report shall include results of any sampling and monitoring. It shall also include any plan (a "long-term monitoring and maintenance plan") for longer term monitoring of pollutant linkages, maintenance and arrangements for contingency action and for the reporting of this to the Local Planning Authority.
Reason - To ensure that any unexpected contamination is dealt with and the development complies with approved details in the interests of protection of ground and surface waters ('controlled waters' as defined under the Water Resources Act 1991).
Piling or any other foundation designs using penetrative methods shall not be permitted other than with the express written consent of the local planning authority, which may be given for those parts of the site where it has been demonstrated that there is no resultant unacceptable risk to groundwater. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.
Reason - To protect ground and surface waters ('controlled waters' as defined under the Water Resources Act 1991).
Prior to the commencement of development a waste management plan setting out measures to manage waste generated from the site both during construction/de-commissioning shall be submitted to the local planning authority for approval. The approved waste management measures shall be carried out during construction and de-commissioning of the solar farm. Reason - To ensure the proposed development incorporates adequate measures to minimise and deal with waste and to protect the environment from pollution.
The roadways hereby approved shall be constructed of permeable materials.
Reason - To ensure the proposed development does not exacerbate flood risk.
In line with the application submissions, infiltration trenches shall be provided around the perimeter of the cabins hereby approved.
Reason - To ensure the proposed development does not exacerbate flood risk.
Mr A Satta
Solar Planning Limited
80 Coleman Street
London
Mr B Wood
Smiths Gore
Exchange House
Petworth
West Sussex
Note: The map marker shows the approximate centre of the application postcode, if available, or the nearest geocoded location from the address. The actual location may be slightly different.