Issue - meetings

211081

Meeting: 08/09/2021 - Planning Committee (Item 36)

36 Application No.211081 - Barkham Farms , Barkham, RG40 4EX pdf icon PDF 2 MB

Recommendation: Conditional approval subject to legal agreement and subject to receipt of confirmation from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government that they do not wish to call the application in for determination

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Proposal: Full application for EIA development for the proposed installation of a new 52ha solar farm for a temporary period of 25 years including underground grid connection between site and Electricity Distribution Centre, laying of internal access road, the erection of substation building security fencing and associated landscaping with approximately 2.9ha of tree planting for carbon sequestration

 

Applicant: Wokingham Borough Council (WBC)

 

The Committee received and reviewed a report about this application, set out in agenda pages 71 to 174.

 

The Committee were advised that updates contained within the supplementary planning agenda included:

 

·           Amendments to conditions 2, 3, 6, 8, 15, 16, 18, 24, 25, and 28 to deal with minor errors or the timing of discharge requirements during the phasing of development;

·           A note that an additional neighbour objection had been received, however it did not raise any additional issues that had not already been considered and addressed within the report;

·           Correction to the fourth and fifth entries on the resident objectors list to read Windmill Farm Cottage;

·           Correction to the last point under the heading ‘Principle of Development’ to refer to the Local Plan Update rather than the Local Plan;

·           Clarification that the measurements contained within paragraph 1(c) and 1(d) were length by width by height.

 

Ian Williams, neighbour, spoke in objection to the application. Ian stated that the application was contrary to national planning policy as it did not avoid the use of best and most versatile land (BMV land), and noted that the applicant considered the benefits of this project to outweigh this harm. Ian was of the opinion that the applicant had ignored elements of national planning policy and guidance, and quoted the Secretary of State by commenting that any proposal for a solar farm on BMV land should only be approved by the most compelling of evidence. Ian was of the opinion that the fact that the grade 3A land was Council owned was not satisfactory justification as to why the development should be located there. Ian added that little had been done to demonstrate that other sites were not suitable, or that the carbon benefit could not be achieved in other ways. Ian felt that the existing farm could not function viably under the proposals, and no diversification was being proposed. Ian stated that whilst it has been suggested that there was a large supply of suitable farming land within the Borough, no survey had been undertaken, and the information provided did not distinguish between 3A and 3B land, and suggested that there was a lack of grade 2 land in the area. Ian added that no cumulative impact assessment regarding the impact of the proposed development and other permitted developments on the supply of BMV land had been undertaken. Relating to heritage, Ian stated intrusive archaeological surveys had not been undertaken which would leave Members unable to undertake the balancing act as set out within the NPPF. In relation to ecology, Ian stated that the assessment of protected species, in particular great  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36