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Agenda item
 

Agenda item

71708: Land at Litchardon Cross, Newton Tracey, EX31 3QE.

Installation of solar farm and associated infrastructure (amended plans and additional details).

Minutes:

The Committee were presented with a virtual site visit by the Planning Officer (RB) which included various photographs, maps and video footage of the site and surrounding area and maps and views as it would be if the planning was approved.

 

As part of the site visit, the Committee was shown:

 

·         A map of the area of the proposed solar farm.

·         A map of the terrain levels

·         Photos of the area in the local vicinity to the proposed solar farm

·         A photo of St Michael’s School, with St Peter’s Church in the foreground.

·         Maps showing to locations of nearby wind turbines at Collacott and Litchardon.

·         A map showing the location of Brookham Farm which was positioned between fields 19-21, and adjacent to field 9. Photos of the farm house, and from the farmhouse were presented.

·         View from Holmacott, Huish Moor, Higher Litchardon, Voscombe and Green Fields.

·         An aerial view of the site layout – with proposed locations of panels around the existing wind turbines.

·         An image of an example of the mesh deer-fencing which would surround the perimeter of the site (at 2.1m height).

·         A photo of a bi-facial solar pv module – from different angles.

·         A 30m by 40m sub station

·         A photo of an example access track.

·         A virtual walkthrough of the site, once developed, at year one, and as at year ten. This was provided for the view from Brookham Farmhouse to Litchardon Cross and from the road near the farmhouse back toward the northeast. Mitigating planting was shown near fields 19 and 20, with an impression of the view after five years.

·         A photo taken from the layby on the A39 showing both the wind turbines of Collacott and Litchardon either side of the A39.

·         Photos of the views of the site from various locations, near to, and further from, the proposed site, some showed how views could be affected after five years, to allow for planting to mitigate the views, other view were provided during the winter – so that the effects when vegetation was reduced could been seen. The views included;

o   From the road at Holmacott Cross

o   Local road at Huish Moor

o   Footpath at Knightacott

o   Local road at Prospect Corner

o   Eastacombe Cross

o   Crest of B3232 at Alverdiscott

o   Saunton, road to hotel (theoretically outside of the range/view radius.

o   Higher Litchardon

o   Lower Meadow Cottage

 

The Planning Officer advised that:

 

·         There were a number of properties in the vicinity of the site: Higher Litchardon, Orchard Farm, Brookham, Meadow Cottage, Rose Cottage, Acorn Cottage, Fremington Cottage, Huish Moor, Holmacott.

·         The majority of the site was within flood zone one and partially in a critical draining area.

·         The application was for the change of use of 21 fields of agricultural land to a solar farm.

·         There would be 32 transformers on site – each at 6m x 2m, painted green.

·         Access tracks would cross the site – each created from stones laid over a membrane.

·         Although Higher Litchardon/Meadow Cottage had ground floor windows at the rear of the property from which the solar panels would be visible without mitigation. This could be reduced with planting. The extract from the LEMP (Landscape Management Plan) showed the proposed banking and woodlands which would be visible from ground/eye level which would reduce the impact. Although it could still be viewed from the roof dormer windows.

·         The view from Huish Moor was separated by the landfill site.

·         Greenfields and Voscombe were both approximately 350m from the site, both faced south with the rear of the buildings facing the site. To the rear of Greenfields was existing vegetation, and to the rear of Voscombe there were existing outbuildings.

·         The connection compound would be 100m from New House and Prospect House. No objections had been received.

·         Very distant view of the site may be seen from Nottison Cross.

·         Views in the medium range would mainly be mitigated by vegetation and the natural rise and fall of the landscape. Over the five years following the creation of the solar farm the vegetation growth would improve the screening of the views.

·         Extensive consultation had taken place and all properties in the vicinity were notified. Site notices had been issued.

 

In response to questions from the Committee, the Lead Planning Officer (South) advised the following would be presented at the Committee meeting on 28th April 2021:

 

·         The plan of the building works, details of the building phases and dates for phases.

·         Logistics regarding the transportation of equipment to site – along with sizes of vehicles involved.

·         Details of the solar panels / finishes, and information regarding possible glare.

·         Further information about the employment creation as mentioned within the reports.

 

Supporting documents: