Several residents have been in touch with us about a proposed solar farm on land next to Blucher. We have spoken with planning officers at the council regarding the concerns raised with us and they have shared the following update with us.
There has been much speculation in relation to a ‘screening opinion’ as to whether the proposed development should be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
There appears to have been some confusion that the response to the EIA screening was an indication as to how a planning application would be determined, or actually granted planning consent in some way.
A Screening Opinion advises whether an EIA is required to be submitted with a planning application or not. The aim of this is to identify projects that might have significant effects on the environment and whether it is anticipated that they are likely to be sufficiently significant so as require them to be assessed as part of an EIA. A screening opinion helps developers get an idea of how likely an EIA will be needed before a formal application is submitted.
The council responded to the EIA screening indicating that the development is not an EIA development. This does not mean that the potential impact of such a scheme will not be thoroughly considered as part of determining any future planning application. Issues such as landscape visual impact, biodiversity, loss agricultural land etc will need to be robustly reviewed through studies submitted as part of a planning application.
Because of the quasi-judicial nature of the planning committee, members are required to judge all planning applications on their merits and within local planning policy and current legislation.
The applicant (Northumberland Estates) has written to the council to inform us that they intend to undertake a one-day public consultation event later this month and we will share the details once we’re made aware of them.
If Northumberland Estates does make a planning application for a solar farm we will share the details on our page along with information on how to submit a comment or objection as part of the planning process.
As Councillor Barry Phillipson sits on the council’s planning committee he will be unable to participate in the event or comment further on this matter until such time as an application comes before the committee, however Councillor Stephen Barry-Stanners will be reviewing any application that is made and will make representation to the planning committee if appropriate.