Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Richard Crabb and Sherry Jesperson.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2024 were confirmed and signed.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

Cllr Northam declared that he had sat on the Weymouth Town Council Planning Committee when item 5a was heard, however would approach the application with an open mind and was not pre-determined.

Members of the public wishing to speak to the Committee on a planning application should notify the Democratic Services Officer listed on the front of this agenda. This must be done no later than two clear working days before the meeting. Please refer to the Guide to Public Speaking at Planning Committee.  Guide to Public Speaking at Planning Committee

The deadline for notifying a request to speak is 8.30am Thursday 25 July 2024.

All details on public participation are reported in the items below.

Development of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) of up to 400MW, connected directly to the National Grid, with associated infrastructure including access, drainage and landscaping.

The Lead Project Officer presented the application for the development of a battery energy storage system (BESS). The proposed site would be located within Chickerell and members were informed of the various designations of the application site and surrounding areas. It was also noted that there was a current application for approximately 400 homes to the west of the site and the proposed location of that application was shown on a map to provide an indication of proximity between the two sites.

The topography of the site was explained to members and a number of photographs were provided from various viewpoints around the site and access points to and from the site. A proposed site plan was provided and the layout and composition of the site was explained by the case officer, who also noted that the timespan of the application was limited to 40 years.

The size and appearance of the BESS containers, control room building, water tanks, inverter building and steel and mesh fencing were all shown to members and cross sections of different points in the site were also provided, to give a sense of the proposed change in ground levels throughout the site.

The Lead Project Officer outlined the sustainability benefits of the scheme and explained that the BESS would allow for the storage of electricity generated from renewable sources and the ability to supply electricity to the National Grid when required. Extracts from the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) Renewable Energy Planning Database showing current BESS facilities in the UK, as well as those under or awaiting construction were provided, to give members an indication of how prevalent BESS facilities were in the UK and the scale of projects. Planning applications for BESS’ within Dorset and neighbouring local planning authorities were also listed.

It was explained that although there was a loss of best and most versatile agricultural land, it was considered that the highly sustainable location of the development outweighed the loss, as it was necessary for the compound to be located near to a substation.

Extracts from the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment undertaken by the applicant were shown to members, to give the extent of visibility and visual impact. Extracts showing proposed landscape mitigation at Year 1 and Year 10 were displayed to show the effect that planting would have on screening the site over time. A noise impact assessment showed that there would not be a significant impact on the noise levels in the surrounding area and it was also noted that there were no highway concerns with the application.

The Lead Project Officer explained that there was a potential fire risk, due to the storage of lithium batteries on the site, however national planning practice guidance on safeguarding against fire risk had been followed, as well as guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council and the local Fire & Rescue Service had been consulted as part of the consultation process. Fire risk and compliance with guidance had also been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

The construction and installation of a Battery Storage Facility, associated infrastructure, landscaping, fencing, site access road, biodiversity net gain planting and cable corridors.

Cllr Coombs and Cllr Flower left the meeting at 13:45.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the application for a battery storage facility and began by showing members the location of the application site, which was in a rural setting in Three Legged Cross and the designated Green Belt.

Photographs of the site, the surrounding areas, adjacent development and access to and from the site were provided to give members a visual indication of the application site. The proposed site plan, which had been amended following consultation with the local Fire Service, showed the layout of the site, including the location of the containers and ancillary buildings. It was explained that the site had one main access and a road around the perimeter of the site but included provision for a second access.

The need for the storage facility and it’s siting in close proximity to the Mannington substation was explained. The storage of renewable energy was consistent with policies in the NPPF and Local Plan and there no letters of representation from third parties had been received in response to the application.

It was considered that there would be harm to the green belt as a result of the proposal, however due to the 40-year life span of the development, low height of the compound and screening of the site, harm to the Green Belt would be moderate. In addition, the renewable energy benefits of the site were considered as very special circumstances, which outweighed the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, openness and any other harm.

The Senior Planning Officer provided details around the Noise Impact Assessment that had been submitted, the impact on residential amenity, the biodiversity plan and the impact on highways.

Fire risk was a principal concern, however, the application had been amended following consultation with the Local Fire service and it had been ensured that access around the site was compliant with their advice.

Ms Lewis spoke in support of the application as a representative of the applicant. She expressed that the development would be important in providing renewable energy benefits and that stakeholders had been closely consulted with to provide a scheme that was acceptable.

In response to members questions the Senior Planning Officer provided the following responses:

·       It had been agreed with the Fire Service that a single access point was considered acceptable.

·       The renewable energy benefits came from the storage of energy from renewable sources and this was given substantial weight when considering the balance of the application.

·       The compound should be located within 1km of the substation for it to be considered viable, therefore the location of the site was crucial to the compound.

Members had the opportunity to debate the merits of the application.

Proposed by Cllr Ridout and seconded by Cllr Northam.

Decision: That the application be granted subject to the conditions set out in the appendix to these minutes.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended). The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.  

There are no exempt items scheduled for this meeting.  

There was no exempt business.