Agenda item

To consider a report by the Head of Planning.

The Committee considered applications:

·        P/LBC/2021/03854 – for the installation of roof mounted solar photovoltaic panels (PV) and associated infrastructure

 

and

 

·        P/LBC/2021/03855 - for listed building consent

 

at Durlston Castle, Lighthouse Road, Durlston, Swanage. The two applications were being considered together as each complemented the other.

 

With the aid of a visual presentation, and taking account the detail in the report, officers showed what the main proposals, principles and planning issues of the development were. The presentation focused on not only what the development entailed and its detailed design, but what effect it would have on existing amenity and the character the area - particularly, the Grade II Listed Durlston Castle – situated within a country park - and that it was:-

·        within the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty;

·        within the Purbeck Heritage Coast;

·        within the Durlston Castle Historic Landscape Registered Park and Garden (Grade II);

·        adjacent to the Durlston National Nature Reserve;

·        adjacent to the South Dorset Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest;

·        adjacent to the Island of Portland to Studland Cliffs Special Area of Conservation; and

·        less than 50 metres from the Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site.

 

and taking into account the policies against which this application was being assessed.

 

Plans and photographs showed the appearance and design of the installation and its dimensions; its setting in conjunction with Durlston Castle and within that part of the Durlston site and - in taking into account the environmental and ecological sensitives of the site - the installations relationship with the characteristics of the other assets in and around Durlston Country Park. Views of how it would look and where it would be situated from around the site were shown.

 

In taking into account those considerations, officers considered the installation would be largely discreet and unobtrusive and would not detract from the important characteristics of the site.

 

The basis of the application was designed to achieve carbon savings associated with the installation of proposed solar panels and associated infrastructure which would make a valuable contribution to cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Associated cost savings would be to the benefit of the continued use of an important historic building for appropriate and publicly beneficial purposes. On site electricity generation would also make a minor contribution to energy security.

 

However, on the basis of comments from the Council’s Conservation & Design Officer, a modification had been made to the amount of panels and where they were to be situated so that none now were being proposed for installation on the Castle itself and, where they were proposed, there would be fewer of them. Whilst this would reduce their ability to generate the energy originally envisaged, they would still significantly contribute towards green energy generation and their installation was still considered to be viable.

 

In summary, the officer’s assessment considered that as the Development Plan was supportive of the sustainable use and generation of energy where adverse social and environmental impacts had been minimised to an acceptable level, this could be seen as a good illustration of what could be achieved on a Council owned asset.

 

Formal consultation had seen no objection from Swanage Town Council and the two Ward members, Councillors Gary Suttle and Bill Trite, were supportive.

 

The opportunity was then given for members to ask questions of the

presentation and what they had heard, in seeking clarification of aspects so

as to have a better understanding in coming to a decision. Officers addressed the questions raised – and what clarification was needed - providing what they considered to be satisfactory answers.

 

In understanding how the officer’s assessment had been made, the Committee considered that the proposal would make a contribution towards achieving reduced carbon emissions, by the utilisation of a natural resource in providing both an environmental and economic benefit to Dorset and in supporting Dorset Council’s case for doing what they could to achieve this.

 

On that basis and having had the opportunity to discuss the merits of the application and an understanding of this; having taken into account the officer’s report and presentation; the written representations; and what they had heard at the meeting, in being proposed by Councillor Shane Bartlett and seconded by Councillor Bill Trite, in being put to the vote it was agreed, unanimously – on a ‘minded to’ basis - that the application should be approved.

 

The Head of Planning, having considered the representations and the officer’s presentation and having taken into account the views of the committee, made the following decision under delegated authority.

 

Decision of the Head of Planning: That the application be approved on the basis of the report and presentation and subject to the conditions and informatives set out in Sections 17 of both reports, respectively.