Purpose

Proposed decision –

To approve Kent County Council’s approach to photovoltaic (PV) generation

Reason for the decision

-      To update the 2014 position statement ‘Development of Large-Scale Solar Arrays’ to provide guidance to applicants, communities, and district councils to help support well designed and appropriately sited solar installations across Kent.

Background

KCC considers that Solar Developments:

(a)  Should be well-designed and appropriately located, which is consistent with its commitment to protecting valued landscapes, habitats, heritage, and agricultural land.

(b) Require careful consideration and should not be located on Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land (grades 1 to 3a).

KCC does not support applications for ground mounted solar arrays that do not have a grid connection secured with the Distribution Network Operator (DNO)/National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) at the time the application is submitted.

KCC acknowledges that co-located Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) storage is generally necessary to make solar farms viable; however, KCC does not support grid-scale BESS.

KCC considers that BESS should only be co-located if “a” and “b” policy positions above are satisfied, and that safety measures are in place including minimum 25m separation distances, emergency access, fire?fighting provision and an Emergency Response Plan.

Options (other options considered but discarded)

-      Retract, without replacing, the 2014 position statement ‘Development of Large-Scale Solar Arrays’.

-      KCC to have no position statement on solar development.

How the proposed decision supports the Council’s Strategic Statement

-      Stand firm against excessively large housing and solar farm developments.

-      Protecting our land from excessively large solar farms.

-      Push back on inappropriate solar farm development planned for Kent which is threatening the character of many local communities.

Decision

As Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Special Projects I agree to:

·         ADOPT the Solar Developments Position Statement.

·         DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director to take all necessary actions and make all consequential decisions to give effect to and implement the position statement.