Agenda and minutes

To determine the application.

Richard Fitzjohn presented the report to members and drew their attention to the update report which had been circulated.

Members received a presentation, in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure, from Councillor Brenda Barber, Ward Councillor for Leverington and Wisbech Rural. Councillor Barber explained that in December 2024 she brought forward a motion to Full Council which was entitled Preservation of Fenland Landscape and Recognition of the Area of Fenland as a Critical Food Producing Area and, in her view, local farmland is some of the best and most versatile in the country according to Natural England and should be kept as farmland for food security, with the unique Fenland landscape recognised as such. She referred to the motion and explained that it was unanimously approved by members at Full Council and whilst it appears that Natural England has no objection to the proposal, the reasons why they have no objection as detailed in the officer’s report is because they feel that there is no permanent loss of best and most versatile land, but, in her opinion, 42 years is a significant length of anyone’s lifetime.

Councillor Barber added that there are also caveats including the fact that the company will need a commitment for the preparation of reinstatement, restoration and aftercare plans which would include returning the land to its former land quality. She made the point that the applicant has also stated that there is no permanent loss of agricultural land quality that is likely to occur provided that the appropriate soil management is employed and the development is undertaken to high standards, but questioned how assurances can be given that this will happen as due to the timescales the applicants’ comments will need to be taken at face value.

Councillor Barber made the point that there is no proof that land of a poorer quality does not exist for the application and referred to Paragraph 174b and footnote 53 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which states that planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by recognising the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside and the wider benefits from natural capital and eco system services including economic and other benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land and of trees and woodland. She questioned whether the application contributes and enhances the natural and local environment, with her role as a Councillor being to represent the views of her constituents and all of the submissions to planning from residents are not in favour of the proposed solar farm.

Councillor Barber added that the area where the proposal is to be situated is where local people walk their dogs and ride their horses and the area is the residents beautiful and natural Fenland landscape. She added that they are worried about larger vehicles using the smaller country roads, noise from the inverters, the battery storage units and the possibility of fires in those areas and local residents are also  ...  view the full minutes text for item P133/24

To determine the application.

Gavin Taylor presented the report to members and drew their attention to the update report which had been circulated.

Members received a presentation, in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure, from Andrew Hodgson and Lee Russell from Seagate Homes. Mr Hodgson stated that in 20 years of bringing planning applications forward for residential development in Fenland, this application has proved to be one of the most complicated schemes he has had to deal with. He added that the site is an allocated site in the Fenland Local Plan but it marries up to the adjacent site and there was the need to make sure that before it came forward to committee that there was confidence that it would work alongside the Prosperity scheme which will come before the committee in due course.

Mr Hodgson stated that he has worked with his highways team to ensure that all of the footpaths, highways and all of the off-site contributions are dealt with. He explained that the Broad Concept Plan did not give him much to consider and accepts that it is a historical piece of work and, therefore, it meant that he needed to begin from scratch.

Mr Hodgson added that as there are different landowners developing the site out there were different requirements needed in terms of adding the school and employment uses and as he is not developing all of it, Seagate took the emphasis on developing the first phase and he is delivering the safeguarded school land which is highlighted in green and can be seen on the presentation screen. He confirmed that it is a safeguarded 2.3 hectares and a two forms of entry school site and when the prosperity scheme located next door comes forward then the commercial schemes and other aspects which are on the Broad Concept Plan will be delivered and there has been good planning and communication to ensure that both elements fit well together.

Mr Hodgson explained that the scheme is for 300 units with 100 units coming forward in the first phase, with the biodiversity on the site being a complicated issue and the first phase which is where the biodiversity is has led him to being able to find a site just up the road and only 700 metres away east of Broad End Road, which will be enhanced as an offset. He stated that there were only 5 public objections to the scheme which, in his opinion, is excellent considering the amount of time that the application has been in progress, with the proposal appearing to be fairly well received when the public consultation was undertaken in 2022 and there are no statutory objections to the scheme which, in his view, is down to his team along with that of officers and he is confident that the application before the committee is a very good scheme.

Members asked the following questions:

·         Councillor Mrs French stated that she has not seen any reference made with regards to the Internal Drainage Boards  ...  view the full minutes text for item P134/24

To advise of the situation regarding the lack of compliance with an Enforcement Notice and to determine an appropriate course of action.

Matthew Leigh presented the report to members.

Members asked questions, made comments and received responses.

Members agreed the recommendations in the report.

(Members resolved to exclude the public for this item of business on the grounds that it involves the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972)