Agenda item

Construction of solar farm together with all associated works, equipment and necessary infrastructure

Land to the North East of Low Horton Farm, Blyth, Northumberland

Construction of solar farm together with all associated works, equipment and necessary infrastructure

Land to the North East of Low Horton Farm, Blyth, Northumberland

K Tipple, Senior Planning Officer introduced the report with the aid of a power point presentation.  It was requested that an additional condition be added to any permission granted in relation to glint and glare as follows:

“Prior to the installation of any solar photovoltaic panels, the site operator must provide contact details to the Local Planning Authority to be utilised in the event that the glare or glint of light from the development is causing detriment or annoyance within a residential dwelling or school in lawful existence at the time of this permission being granted. Over the lifetime of the development, should a Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) registered Environmental Health Officer determine that glare or glint from the development site is causing detriment to residential or educational amenity, within one month of being notified the operator shall submit to the Local Planning Authority for approval a scheme of mitigation to remedy the glare or glint which has been identified. Thereafter, the approved mitigation shall be installed and retained for the lifetime of the development.?

?Reason: To protect residential and educational amenity from harmful light in accordance with Policy POL 2 of the Northumberland Local Plan.”

J Selwyn, Managing Director of Bluefield Development addressed the Committee speaking in support of the application.  His comments included the following:-

·       Power generated from this site would power approximately 15,000 homes with the census showing that there were 16,961 households, so the power generation would be quite close to the number of houses in Blyth.

·       The application had generally been well received from the public with only 7 comments received including 3 objectors. 

·       There were now over 500 solar farms in the UK with the majority of them providing 49.9 mw due to the scale needed to have a viable project with the grid costs and were now being built with no Government subsidy.

·       98.6% Of the land on this site was Grade B, was adjacent to the former New Delaval Colliery and had coal seams running under the site. 

·       There would be minimum impact to footpaths and the bridleway and good engagement had been undertaken with the British Horse Society to retain access around the edges of the solar farms. 

·       Construction would be via the A192 and a new permissive footpath would be provided which meant that the footpath would not end at the A189.

·       The site belonged to an Estate which had recently acquired land of a similar size which the tenant farmer was to farm.  The Estate believed that the solar farm would diversify their income, meet their longer term objectives, provide sustainability and would complement the wind turbine already on the site.

·       Sheep would be grazed on the solar farm and the land kept in agricultural use. Biodiversity net gain on this site would be 65.6% in habitat units and 76.1% gain in hedgerow units.

·       There had been less engagement with Blyth Town Council, however the Group would still be committed to providing a sum of at least £350,000 for community benefit and were open to having discussions with other parties if they were relevant to the site and in conjunction with the Council.

·       The provision of the solar farm would help to address the climate emergency and energy security without threatening food security, would not harm the environment but would provide enhanced biodiversity and provide significant funds to the local community.

·       There had been a very positive engagement with the Council’s Planning Department on both projects and considered that the planning performance arrangements was an excellent way of dealing with these large quite complex projects.  The projects had been dealt with very efficiently and in a formal, but logical way engaging with all consultees to address any issues they raised in a timely way. 

·       They looked forward to continuing to work with the Local Authority and communities on the project and hoped that Members would approve the application.

Interim Executive Director advised that the Government were looking at the way we did planning performance agreements on major schemes following input from developers of various schemes stating that this worked very well, however there was still work to be done in relation to the smaller applications side.

In response to questions from Members of the Committee, the following information was provided:-

·       This site was closer to residential properties than the previous application however there were still appropriate separation distances and there was a rail line between, along with existing tree planting and vegetation along the edges which would mitigate any effects.

·       No weight would be given in planning terms to whether any land was tenanted or who the landowner was.

·       The new permissive right of way was included on the plans in the recommended conditions and would be required to be maintained over the lifetime of the site.

Councillor Darwin proposed acceptance of the recommendation to approve the application in line with the report with the additional condition in relation to glint and glare as outlined above, which was seconded by Councillor Stewart.

It was clarified that what was being granted was for a 40 year permission for this use on the land however the landowner could decide to do something else with the land.  The possible use of the community funds outside of Blyth was welcomed and the use of solar power to address the climate emergency highlighted.

A vote was taken on the proposal to approve the application in line with the recommendation as outlined in the report with the additional condition related to glint and glare and it was unanimously

RESOLVED that the application be GRANTED for the reasons and with the conditions as outlined in the report and additional condition related to glint and glare.