Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Richard Foster (substitute Councillor Robert Windass).

That the minutes of the meeting of Strategic Planning Committee, held on 10 June 2025, be confirmed by Members and signed by the Chair as a correct record subject to the following amendment:

Reference to the acronym WRAP within the minutes is incorrect – this should be replaced with the acronym RAP.

Councillor Andy Brown declared a non-prejudicial interest in relation to him being a member of Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) and that organisation’s objection to the proposals.

Considered

The report of the Assistant Director of Planning – Community Development Services requesting Members to determine a planning application for the erection of a solar farm including associated infrastructure, underground cabling, landscaping and access on behalf of Brompton Solar Limited on land North of Brompton On Swale North Yorkshire

The application was brought to the Strategic Planning Committee due to the scale of the development in relation to visual and landscape impact, together with loss of agricultural land.

The Planning Officer presented the Committee report highlighting the proposal; context to the application; site location, outline and description; details regarding the changes to the conditions; and the planning policy considerations. The Officer recommendation was highlighted.

The Planning Officer highlighted a number of updates to the report, detailing the following:

·       The number of houses that would be powered by the energy from the proposed plant should have read 17884

·       Clarification of the details in paragraphs 10.35 and 10.42

·       Three further letters of representation. Details were outlined including clarification of the issues raised by Brompton Parish Council.

Councillor Arnold Warneken spoke during the public speaking section requesting clarification of the biodiversity net gain details. Different aspects of biodiversity net gain were set out in paragraph 10.8 of the report, however, a single figure for the overall net gain was not available.

Frances Nicholson, the agent for the applicant, addressed the Committee highlighting the following:

·       The applicant had worked closely with the Case Officer on the application and it was ensured that it accorded with the appropriate guidance and policies.

·       The proposal would provide sufficient energy for 17884 houses.

·       This would provide clean energy and would assist in addressing the climate emergency

·       Details of the output from the plant were provided.

·       The reduction in CO2 would be the equivalent of taking 11000 cars off the road.

·       There had been no statutory objections.

·       There had been no objection from Natural England in respect of the loss of the grade 3 land on the site.

·       The applicant had worked closely with local residents and the Parish Council to address issues of concern.

Members had an in-depth discussion in respect of the application and the issues raised by the public speakers. The following issues were highlighted:

·       It was noted that a community commitment of £20k from the applicant was purely voluntary and could not be secured by planning permission. However there was confidence that this would take place as agreed.

·       The solar panel site would not be sprayed with pesticides and natural resources, such as sheep grazing, would be utilised to maintain the land. It was suggested that a maintenance management plan was required to ensure this was adhered to.

·       In response to whether food bearing trees could be stipulated in terms of the planting on the site it was stated that there was just a reference to trees, not a particular type of tree, and this could not be conditioned, however, this matter could be discussed further with the applicant.

·       It was clarified that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 117.

There were none.

Tuesday 12 August 2025 at a venue to be decided.

Tuesday, 12 August 2025 at 10.00am at a venue to be confirmed.