The planning application for a large-scale solar farm in Rode was due to be determined by 12th February. However, the applicant was required to provide a significant amount of additional information in order to respond to issues raised by consultees. The determination date has therefore been extended and the application will now probably be considered at the April meeting of the Somerset East Planning Committee (2nd April).
This additional information is now available on the Somerset Council website: https://www.somerset.gov.uk/…/view-and-comment-on-a…/ [On the SC website, go to “Planning, buildings and land”, then select “View or comment on a planning application”, choose “Mendip”, then go to “Find an application”. The application reference is 2023/2183/FUL].
The applicant has made some relatively minor changes to the proposed development (see list below), which improve the scheme – although the scale of the development, its proximity to the village of Rode, and its impact on the local landscape (which were the major concerns raised by the Parish Council) would appear broadly unaltered.
The changes put forward are as follows:
- Removed some panels to the east and west of Flexham Farm house, and away from Frith Farm/Bradford Road.
- Proposed some additional landscaping across the site, specifically:
(a) reinstatement of two historic field boundaries in the north-west,
(b) additional planting along boundary near Flexham Farm,
(c) additional planting along boundary near no 8 Frome Road (a listed building), - Relocating an inverter away from Flexham Farm Listed Building.
- Increasing ‘no build’ buffers across the site from boundary vegetation in areas of bat activity;
- Increasing drainage near the Battery / Substation field.
- Adding in additional space for turning into Rode Farm (Access 2, A361) and Vehicle parking / passing place within the Site.
- Introducing a permissive Bridleway connecting Monkley Lane with Poplar Tree Lane.
As a result of the additional information, and the changes to the proposed development, Somerset Council has announced a re-consultation period, which runs until 14th March.
If you wish to comment on any of these changes, and/or the updated information now available, on the Somerset Council website, make sure you are logged in (if you haven’t previously logged in, simply register first). Then go to “Planning, buildings and land”, select “View or comment on a planning application”, choose “Mendip”, then go to “Find an application”. The application reference is 2023/2183/FUL. You should see an option to “make a comment” towards the top right of your screen.