Solar Farm Plans at Calthwaite Set to Go Before Planning Committee For Second Time

A new solar farm could be built in the Penrith area if the plans are approved at a meeting in Kendal next week.

Members of Westmorland & Furness Council’s strategic planning committee are due to meet at Kendal Town Hall on Wednesday (February 4) where they will consider the planning application.

As well as the installation of the proposed solar farm it includes associated ancillary works on land at Devonshire Square in Calthwaite.

It is being placed before the committee because the application is considered to be of considerable wider public interest and the application comprises a form of renewable energy development which covers an area greater than five hectares.

It states: “The proposed development would be acceptable in principle, which due to the positive contribution towards sustainable development carries significant weight in the planning balance.

“Taking into account the scale and technical specifications of the proposed development it is not considered to have a significant impact on residential amenity or neighbouring properties in terms of visual amenity, noise and operational disturbance.

“The landscape impact is considered to be localised. Therefore, the proposal satisfactorily complies with current local and national planning policy, and as such is recommended for approval subject to an agreement being secured to provide off-site Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and conditions.”

According to the report the proposed development comprises the following:

Individual solar PV panels mounted on racks and arranged in rows of modular tables facing south. Each panel will be inclined to angle towards the sun;

Inverter station;

On-site delivery substation;

Substation switch room;

Auxiliary transformer;

O&M storage;

Control Room;

Officer/Welfare facility; and

Perimeter deer fencing and infrared CCTV.

It is recommended that planning permission be granted, subject to:

Adoption of the submitted Habitats Regulations Assessment to meet the council’s responsibilities as a competent authority in accordance with The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended);

Delegated authority given to the Head of Development to finalise a Unilateral
Undertaking (UU) that is needed to secure the BNG monitoring fee and grant
planning permission, subject to the conditions set out in the report.

By Ian Duncan (Local Democracy Reporting Service)