Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Robert Windass, Councillor Caroline Goodrick substituted.

Councillor Andrew Lee arrived at 10:20am.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 2026 were agreed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Head of Development Management – Community Development Services sought determination of a planning application for the installation of a solar farm comprising ground mounted Solar PV panels with a generating capacity of up to 19MW(AC), including mounting framework, inverters and transformers, 2 no. substations, a container, control room, cabling, deer proof fence, CCTV, internal tracks and associated infrastructure, landscaping, biodiversity net gain, permanent grid connection hub and environmental enhancements for a period of 40 years on land at East Cowton, North Yorkshire.

The application was brought to the Strategic Planning Committee as it was considered that the application raised significant planning issues, relating to the scale and type of the development and the potential for cumulative impact arising from the relationship between the proposal and adjacent developments.

Prior to the start of the presentation, the Development Management Team Manager gave a verbal update on comments that were recently received in which concerns were raised that there was insufficient information to come to a lawful decision. Those matters which were not addressed on the committee report were commented on as below. Other matters raised were covered within the committee report and further assessment was not required.

The perceived lack of information included:

·       Whether a grid connection was achievable, with the network having capacity to take the electricity generated. This was a material planning consideration, with the weight to be given a matter of planning judgement. For example, weight could be given to the enhanced sustainability if the system had capacity and no physical works were needed to upgrade the national grid. 

The scheme had a Stage 2 Gate Offer from the National Energy System Operator for grid connection, which included an indicative connection point and completion date, so it was recommended that moderate positive weight be attached as it was likely the grid would be able to receive the energy.

·       A lack of a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit. This was recommended to be a pre-commencement condition. The development would be in breach of condition if this was not satisfactorily complied with.

·       Reliance on conditions. Conditions were a fundamental part of the decision notice, and the type and number of conditions were not unusual for a development of this type and scale. The conditions proposed in this case were considered capable of meeting the NPPF tests and constituted a lawful mechanism for controlling development.

The officer presented a detailed series of photographs and plans showing the location of application, the views of the site from various directions, the plans for the development on the site and other associated information.

Elaine Simpson, East Cowton Parish Council, spoke to object to the application.

Councillor Annabel Wilkinson, Division Councillor, was unable to attend the meeting. Her written statement, supporting the view of the Parish Council, was read aloud at the meeting.

James Walker, applicant, spoke in support of the application.

Members queried:

·       Whether the inclusion of recommended condition 11cc) was relevant as the plans did not show a battery storage facility. It was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 144.

There were no items of urgent business.

1:00pm on Tuesday 24 April 2026 at Scarborough Town Hall.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 1pm on Friday 24 April 2026 at Scarborough Town Hall.

The day was incorrectly recorded as Tuesday on the agenda.