Agenda item

Installation of roof mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and associated infrastructure.

The Committee considered an application for the installation of roof mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and associated infrastructure.

 

The Lead Project Officer presented the application that included a location plan, public rights of way and general context plan, landscape & heritage assets plan, aerial photo and photos of site, proposed elevations and roof plan.  The building as a whole was a Grade II Listed Building, including later additions and corridors added to the original school.  The site was located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and also within the Symondsbury Conservation Area.

 

He further advised the committee that, in considering whether to grant planning permission which affected the Listed Building or its setting, the local planning authority must have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest that it possessed.  Local planning authorities must also have regard to preserving or enhancing the natural beauty of the area with national policy indicating that great weight must be given to conserving and enhancing landscape and scenic beauty in AONBs with conservation and enhancement of wildlife and cultural heritage also important considerations.  Special attention must be paid to preserving or enhancing the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.

 

It was explained that at the time the original application was submitted, permission had been sought for 84 panels arranged in 6 arrays across the building.  Following concerns expressed by Symondsbury Parish Council and the result of a bat survey, the application was amended to 44 solar panels in 4 arrays installed on 2 flat roof surfaces and 1 sloping plane.  These would be mounted in frames 10 degrees up from the horizontal, resulting in an arrangement that would be 25cm higher than the existing roof level.  Although detailed specifications had not been provided in the application, these could be controlled through planning condition if necessary.

 

The main issues were outlined including the acceptability in principle of the proposed development, the impact of proposed development on the character and appearance of the site and its setting and on heritage significance and the balance between harm and public benefits.

 

The relevant policy background had been outlined in the report.  The carbon savings generated as a result of this scheme were modest, but nevertheless made a valuable contribution to cutting greenhouse gas emissions and assist the transition to a low carbon future.  The associated cost savings would be used to contribute towards maintenance of the historic school buildings to the public benefit and this weighed in favour of granting planning permission.

 

However, the Lead Project Officer explained that the exposed nature of the flat roof areas in the western extensions would be open to view from various locations around the school site. Even if the panels were situated away from the edges of the flat roof elements of the supporting framework and the panels would be visible and appear incongruous.  Additional screening of these areas had not been proposed as part of this application.

 

Therefore it was considered that the harm to the heritage significance of the school and other listed buildings in the area, the harm to the character and appearance of the Symondsbury Conservation Area and AONB was not outweighed by the public benefits.  The proposal was contrary to National Planning Policy, policies ENV1, ENV4, ENV10 and COM 11 of adopted Local Plan and policy L1 of the made Neighbourhood Plan and should be refused.

 

The Committee noted that the scheme limited the solar panels to the flat roof elements of the building with removal of those panels originally situated on the sloping roof elements. Some members sought to reintroduce elements of the originally proposed scheme and asked whether changes could be made to the application in this respect.

 

The Committee was advised that a different recommendation could be made provided that it did not amount to a substantive change to the development proposal or harmed the interests of the interested parties.

 

Members highlighted that the recommendation to refuse had been based largely on the views of the Conservation Officer which did not take into account the public benefit of the transition to renewable energy or the Council’s Climate and Ecological Emergency.

 

Whilst noting the comments of the Conservation Officer and Symondsbury Parish Council, Cllr Nick Ireland stated that the sloping roofs originally identified for the solar panels would not necessarily be noticeable from the nearby road.  He proposed that the Committee be minded to approve the application as submitted for 44 panels arranged in 4 arrays across the building, which was seconded by Cllr Kate Wheller.

 

Cllr Bill Pipe proposed that the Committee be minded to refuse the application and that Dorset Council was encouraged to submit a revised application.  This proposal was not seconded.

 

Cllr Kelvin Clayton provided some reasons for the committee to approve the application, citing NPPF paragraph 152 “the planning system should support transition to a low carbon future” and paragraph 202 “less than substantial harm should be weighed against the public benefit” of renewable energy generation.

 

Members considered that every opportunity should be taken to reduce carbon emissions and that the cumulative effect of small developments such as this would add up.

 

Officers requested details of any relevant conditions to attach to the proposal should the committee be minded to approve the application and there followed a short adjournment whilst the Lead Project Officer identified the conditions to be attached.

 

The meeting reconvened and the Lead Project Officer outlined the 3 conditions for the  planning permission, including a standard condition to commence development within 3 years; details of the plans and drawings to be approved and requirement for removal of the solar panels (including any mounting brackets and associated framework) if they were no longer to be used for the generation of electricity.

 

The proposer and seconder of the motion to approve the application confirmed that they were content with the conditions.

 

Proposed by Cllr Nick Ireland, seconded by Cllr Kate Wheller.

 

The committee was minded to approve the application subject to conditions.

 

The Service Manager for Development Management and Enforcement, 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 Service Manager: That the application be approved subject to the conditions outlined in the appendix to these minutes.