Agenda and minutes

To declare disposable pecuniary, and any other interests*.

*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they may have an interest to declare.

No declarations made.

Planning Members has recommended to Council that planning permission be granted for a proposed energy storage facility encompassed by 2.4m high palisade fencing and 3.7m high acoustic fencing to provide energy balancing services to the National Grid and access to the public highway (Agenda for Planning Committee on Wednesday, 19th April 2023, 7.00 pm | Hart District Council (moderngov.co.uk). The proposal represents a departure from the development Plan and therefore requires Council approval.

Section 70(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (“TCPA 1990”) provides that the decision-maker shall have regard to the provisions of the development plan, so far as material to the application. Section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) requires that applications for planning permission must be determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

The proposal would provide an energy storage facility within the countryside which is required to ensure the capacity and consistency of the electrical system within Hart to help achieve governmental targets of a reduction of reliance on fossil fuels.

Whilst it is acknowledged by the Planning Committee that the proposal would cause harm to the landscape and character of the area, it would be limited to the immediate environment of the field and would have little or no impact on the wider landscape character. Furthermore, there would be short-term highway impacts throughout the construction period (approximately 36 weeks). However, it is considered that the benefits of the development in providing infrastructure that would contribute towards the Government’s national targets of reducing dependence upon fossil fuels along with suitable mitigation as secured by way of conditions would weigh in favour of the proposed development. The proposal battery storage facility would allow for the storage of energy from the national grid to supplement the supply during peak periods as well as be required in the transition towards sustainable energy supplies. These methods of energy creation are beholden to weather conditions and a store for the energy produce would be required to make such ambitions possible moving forward.

The Planning considered that the benefits of the proposed development would outweigh any negative impacts and as such, the development should be approved subject to the conditions l

RECOMMENDATION FROM PLANNING COMMITTEE TO COUNCIL

GRANT subject to conditions as set out in the Officer report which can be found here 23 04 19 Blue Bell Lodge Committee Report Final.pdf (moderngov.co.uk)

Background Note

The determination of planning applications is not delegated to Planning Committee where the Committee propose a determination that is contrary to the Development Plan (or policy approved by Council) in which case the Committee’s recommendations will be placed before Council for Council to consider the policy issues that gave rise to the referral to Council. Council should not seek to review or change other aspects of the Planning Committee’s decision where in themselves they have not specifically given rise to the referral to Council.

Recommendations will be deemed to be accepted by Council  ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.

The Chief Executive outlined the reasons for the Extraordinary meeting and the relevant procedural rules. There had been no call ins during the relevant period, and therefore it was deemed that the application was granted without debate.

DECISION

GRANTED – SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS as set out in the Officer report which can be found here 23 04 19 Blue Bell Lodge Committee Report Final.pdf (moderbgov.co.uk)