Purpose

To consider the council's response to the
statutory consultation in respect of Lime Down Solar
Park.

Content

Resolved
 
1) That Cabinet note the contents of the
report.
 
2) That Cabinet agree the proposed response (Appendix
1) as the council’s Relevant Representation.
 
3) That Cabinet delegate authority to the Director
for Planning, Economy and Regeneration to finalise the response and
make any necessary changes to it prior to submission to the
Planning Inspectorate.
 
4) That Cabinet acknowledge that the council will
submit additional responses during the course of the examination,
in accordance with previously agreed delegated authority
provisions.
 

5)
That the Executive Summary of the Council’s Relevant
Representation be amended as set out below. The paragraph numbers
correspond with the paragraphs of the Cabinet report and the
amended wording is in bold.

Para 26. Add… Carbon break-even is
not until at least 2076, and may never be achieved in
relation to whole life carbon emissions…
Para 32. Add at the beginning of the
paragraph The area has experienced frequent and significant
flooding events and the council considers it important that
the issues are fully discussed in
examination.
Para 33. Delete… ‘the Council
considers that the assessment methodology is robust and generally
compliant. It is agreed that the residual harm is ‘less than
substantial’ but’...
Para36. Add… The scheme will
increase pressure on PROW and adversely alter user’s
recreational experience.
Para 37. Add… From a public
protection perspective, further analysis of noise levels is
required. Operational noise from moving panels, BESS…
Whilst the air quality and dust migration measures appear to
be broadly acceptable.
Para 38. Add… total spending of
at least £1.76m per year.
Para 39. Delete… without additional
protective infrastructure…
Para 40. Add to the Executive Summary
paragraph 50 of the Cabinet report which deals with wellbeing and
mental health.
Para 42. Delete… net positive carbon
savings and… also delete short- and medium-term
impacts

 

6) That the main body of the
report be amended where necessary in order to be consistent with
the revised Executive Summary.

7)
That the Relevant Representation be reviewed and
approved by the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Development
Management and Housing before submission to the Planning
Inspectorate.

 

Reasons for Decision

 

Wiltshire Council is the primary Host Authority for
this NSIP scheme, and one of the key statutory consultees. By
providing a detailed response to the Examining Authority in its
Relevant Representation, the council has the opportunity to
influence the key areas to be considered during the examination.
The response also highlights where it is considered that further
mitigation and additional and / or strengthened commitments are
required. This will enable the council to continue to work with
Island Green Power and other key stakeholders to further develop
the scheme proposals.