Agenda item

1) Mr Tomaszewski, Case Officer, outlined the report.

2) Dr Charles Unter (Offham Parish Council) addressed the Committee in opposition to the proposal. Ms Claire Hannan (Infinis) spoke in reply as applicant.

3) 3) During discussion on this item, the Committee agreed to add an Informative encouraging the applicant to participate in liaison meetings with Offham Parish Council and work with FCC Environment as landowner to ensure that the tree screening around the perimeter of the landfill site is well maintained and, where possible improved.  It also agreed that references in the officer report to Three Mile Lane be corrected to Seven Mile Lane.

4) Further to questions and debate, Mr Rayner proposed, the Chairman seconded and Members RESOLVED that:

(a) the application be REFERRED to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities under the Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2021 and that SUBJECT TO no intervention by him that PLANNING PERMISSION BE GRANTED SUBJECT TO the prior satisfactory completion of a legal agreement to secure the Heads of Terms set out in Appendix 1 and conditions covering amongst other matters: Development to be commenced within 3 years of the date of the permission; Carrying out the development in accordance with the submitted plans; Restriction of permitted development rights; Temporary planning permission for a period of 35 years from the date of energisation (the date of first energisation shall be notified to the Local Planning Authority in writing); Submission and approval in writing of a decommissioning method statement at least six months prior to the completion of the 35 year energisation period; Submission and approval in writing of a decommissioning method statement in the event that the export of electricity to the grid ceases for a period of 6 months (unless relating to a temporary cessation resulting from the need to remediate localised differential settlement or in connection with the ongoing management of landfill gas or leachate at the landfill site), or within six months following a permanent cessation of construction works prior to the solar facility coming into operational use; The site shall be restored in accordance with the approved restoration and aftercare scheme, or any consent which subsequently varies or replaces it, following decommissioning; No energisation shall take place until the submission and approval in writing of full details of the proposed route of the permissive path including, surface, gates and fence; Submission and approval in writing of a Construction Management Plan prior to commencement of development; Submission and approval in writing of a Landscape and Ecological Management Plan; Submission and approval of a lighting scheme; Submission of a landscaping scheme prior to commencement of development; Tree protection measures; Construction hours only between 07:00 and 18:00 hours Monday to Friday and between 07:30 and 13:00 hours on Saturdays (with none on Sundays, Bank and Public Holidays), unless otherwise approved by the County Planning Authority; Repairs and maintenance only between 07:00 and 18:00 hours Monday to Saturday (with none on Sundays, Bank and Public Holidays), unless otherwise approved by the County Planning Authority (where there is insufficient time to secure prior approval for urgent repairs or maintenance the operator shall notify the County Planning Authority of the date, time, reason for and nature of the works on the next available working day); Submission of a scheme within 24 months of energisation to demonstrate that no erosion/scarification of the grassland between the arrays has occurred. In the event of evidence of erosion or scarification, mitigation details shall be submitted and approved in writing by the County Planning Authority; and

(b) the applicant be advised by Informative that:

1. The development would require a permit from the Environment Agency, so it is recommended that the applicant contacts the National Permit Service on 03708 506 506 to discuss the issues likely to be raised.
2. Planning permission does not convey any approval to carry out works on or affecting the public highway.
3. It should explore the opportunities for community engagement, with particular focus on engaging with pupils at Offham Primary School to promote and enhance understanding of the benefits associated with renewable energy generation.
4. It is encouraged to participate in liaison meetings with Offham Parish Council and work with FCC Environment as landowner to ensure that the tree screening around the perimeter of the landfill site is well maintained and, where possible, improved.