Solar Power Station Near Wootton Bridge Recommended For Approval After Debate

A large-scale solar power station application put members of the Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee at odds yesterday evening.

Though ultimately approved, following council officers’ recommendation to accept Sunny Oaks Renewable Energy Park’s revised plan for a facility southwest of Wootton Bridge, three councillors voted against it and one abstained.

The consent is subject to 27 conditions and a Section 106 agreement to secure a contribution towards improvements to the local Rights of Way network and a connecting path through the application site.

Opposing councillors included the Liberal Democrats’ Nick Stuart, Peter Spink of the Empowering Islanders group and Caroline Gladwin from Reform UK.

Conservative representative for Mountjoy and Shide Martin Oliver abstained.

The seven members backing the plans were Matthew Price, Debbie Andre, Geoff Brodie, Claire Critchison, Paul Fuller, Julie Jones-Evans and Chris Quirk.

Cllr Stuart, who was stepping in for his Liberal Democrat colleague Cllr Michael Lilley, said he could not support the proposal with its current 25 metre buffer zone between the application site and Fattingpark Copse – a 46-acre ancient woodland.

He told the chamber:

“On balance, I cannot support it with this current buffer zone – it should be 50 metres – there is no reason why it shouldn’t be.”

Conservative councillor Chris Quirk said: “As a council we voted to accept we had a climate crisis and that we were going to support renewable energies and zero carbon and moving in that direction…we should be inclined to support it.”

Cllr Gladwin meanwhile expressed concerns over flooding and fire risks and what the development meant for wildlife species.

Independent councillor Paul Fuller pointed to the lack of an objection from public body Natural England:

“If we’re trying to safeguard and protect Fattingpark Copse, you would expect Natural England to raise comments.”

In a March 28 submission to the council, Natural England raised no objection subject to ‘appropriate mitigation being secured’.

It said:

“Natural England considers that without appropriate mitigation the application would have an adverse effect on the integrity of Briddlesford Copses Special Area of Conservation (SAC).”

County Hall’s committee report, prepared prior to yesterday’s meeting, said:

“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.”