Major Solar Power Station Plan To Come Before Planning Committee

Planners have recommended a major application for a renewable energy park south of a large Isle of Wight village be conditionally approved.

They say Sunny Oaks Renewable Energy Park’s revised plan for a solar power station to the southwest of Wootton Bridge should be accepted subject to a Section 106 Agreement and 26 conditions.

The proposal is due to be examined by the planning committee next Tuesday.

A Section 106 Agreement is a legal agreement between a developer and a local planning authority to mitigate the effects of a development.

County Hall’s committee report says:

“Officers concluded that the proposal would provide capacity for circa 18.5MW, which would make a significant contribution to the local renewable energy generation.

“This would result in moderate, positive economic and social benefits and significant environmental benefits, which would outweigh the minimal to moderate negative economic and environmental impacts, principally with respect to loss of agricultural land, visual change to the rural landscape (outside the National Landscape) and impacts on neighbouring residential amenity and archaeology.”

Officers say a Section 106 Agreement should be agreed to ‘secure a contribution towards enhancements to the local Rights of Way network and the provision of a permissive path through the site to link to these’.

Sunny Oaks’ agent, rural property specialists BCM previously said:

“The clear narrative to move toward a low carbon economy and to mitigate and adapt to climate change must be given significant material weight.

“To secure renewable energy generation which is only dependant on the sun (and not fossil fuels or other countries) not only moves the UK to a low carbon economy which adapts to climate change, but also caters for positive social and economic benefits for generations to come by safeguarding essential renewable infrastructure which will support businesses, the economy and communities.”

The council has received 32 letters of objection to the power station, raising a raft of concerns including environment and wildlife impacts, noise pollution, the loss of good agricultural land, and flooding, fire and public health risks.

A total of 23 comments were lodged supporting the plan, with a host of grounds including increased renewable energy generation for the Island, there being very little impact on the neighbourhood once the station is built, reduced dependency on fossil fuels and the scheme helping to reduce energy prices and fuel poverty.

The planning committee will meet at County Hall at 4pm next Tuesday.