A planning application for a renewable energy park near Wootton Bridge has been resubmitted to the Isle of Wight council.
Sunny Oaks Renewable Energy Park Limited’s revised proposal comprises a collection of ground mounted solar panels and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
The installed capacity of the solar panels would amount to around 20 megawatts while the BESS would be exporting at 28.5 megawatts.
Permission withdrawn following judicial review claim
A different version of the application was granted permission by the council in April 2024, but was later subject to a judicial review claim.
The claim, which raised a fire risk from the BESS, resulted in the permission being withdrawn.
The revised application states that “all of the points raised in the claim for judicial review have been addressed and there is no impediment to the lawful grant of planning permission”.
It goes on to state that:
Revisions to the proposed development have been made, as outlined in Section 2, following liaison with the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) and the Council’s drainage consultants, as well as recommendations from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service.
The changes
The changes to the proposed development include:
- Widened access road on approach to BESS compound, accommodating the turning circle of a fire appliance, or to allow multiple appliances to be held at this location.
- Two new pedestrian gates for emergency service personnel into the BESS compound (east and southern boundary). These gates would be locked but accessible for emergency service personnel should it be needed in the event of a fire.
- Two new pedestrian access footpaths for emergency service personnel from the enlarged approach to the BESS compound to the new pedestrian gates, for use by emergency services only and clearly signposted as such.
- Provision of above ground water storage tanks at eastern end of the compound to store water for use in a fire fighting event (in accordance with NFCC guidance and controlled by planning condition).
- Provision of drainage features at the impermeable BESS compound. New drainage channels at each plateau within the compound would, under normal conditions, collect rainwater which would be discharged by a new underground soakaway. In the unlikely event of a fire being fought at the site, the drainage channels would collect contaminated water which would be diverted (via an electronically activated penstock valve) into new underground attenuation tank at the western
Mitigation measures
A Planning Statement prepared by property specialists BCM said,
“The proposed development is located on land which is not within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, nor designated for any purpose.
“The extensive range of mitigation and enhancement measures identified have been developed to enhance the landscape character of the site and to remedy the potential adverse landscape and visual effects.
“These initiatives include planting new mixed native hedgerows, planting a temporary evergreen hedge that will in time be replaced by a native scrub/hedgerow edge, planting new native trees within or next to existing hedges, and establishing extensive natural grassland areas.”
“Will support rural economic development opportunities”
Sunny Oaks’ revised proposal also highlighted the application’s compliance with the council’s local plan policies.
Its benefits for economic development were given particular prominence:
“It will support rural economic development opportunities and farm diversification schemes that contribute to the sustainability of the wider countryside.”
Opposition
A detractor of the project previously said,
“Destroying our natural environment to replace it with a energy farm is definitely not the right way to go about it in these times.
“We need to protect our natural environment and especially woodland.
“An ancient woodland copse will be directly affected by this farm, wildlife and the land itself will be damaged.
“The Isle of Wight is surrounded by the seas and surely harnessing energy from the seas would be a better idea, leaving the land for farming to produce local food for the Island.
“Solar panels won’t be around long as other more efficient ways of harnessing the sun’s energy becomes available.”
View the plans
You can view the plans on the council’s planning register (22/01585/FUL).
The public consultation runs until 29th November 2024.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
