The Melton Council Planning Committee met on Thursday, 31 July 2025, to discuss planning applications for a solar farm on Stygate Lane, Pickwell and reserved matters relating to a housing development at Sysonby Farm, Nottingham Road, Melton Mowbray. The committee approved both applications, subject to conditions.

Here's a breakdown of the key discussions:

Application 24/01038/FUL: Land at Stygate Lane, Pickwell

The committee approved the application for a ground-mounted photovoltaic solar farm with a capacity of up to 49.99MW, along with associated equipment and infrastructure.

• Details of the proposal: The application, submitted by RWE Renewables UK Solar And Storage Limited, spans two parcels of agricultural land, one in Melton and one in Rutland, totalling 87 hectares. The solar farm is designed to generate up to 49.99MW of renewable electricity for export to the National Grid, with a planned operational period of 40 years. The site would also accommodate battery storage and landscaping enhancements, including wildflower meadows, a community orchard, a fitness trail, and permissive footpaths.

• Key considerations: The committee considered the benefits of renewable energy generation against potential harms to the landscape, heritage assets, and agricultural land. The site is not subject to any protective landscape designations, though it is considered an attractive area of open countryside.

• Public and consultee comments: The council received 50 objections and 228 letters of support for the application. Somerby Parish Council objected to the application. Leicestershire County Council initially raised concerns regarding highways and archaeology, but later withdrew their objections subject to conditions.

• Conditions for approval: The approval is subject to a number of planning conditions, including those relating to:

  • Submission of final plans and drawings
  • A seven-year commencement period
  • A decommissioning and site restoration scheme
  • Noise limits
  • A Construction Environment Management Plan
  • Ecological protections and enhancements
  • A skylark mitigation strategy
  • A grazing management plan
  • A beekeeping scheme
  • A local employment and training strategy
  • Surface water drainage

Application 23/00287/REM: Sysonby Farm, Nottingham Road, Melton Mowbray

The committee approved the reserved matters application for 290 dwellings at Sysonby Farm, following outline permission 18/00359/OUT.

• Details of the proposal: The application sought approval for the appearance, layout, scale, and landscaping of the residential development, as well as the discharge of several conditions related to design, housing mix, climate and energy efficiency, construction traffic, and biodiversity. The site forms part of the Melton North Sustainable Neighbourhood, guided by the MNSN Masterplan[^2].

  [^2]: The Melton North Sustainable Neighbourhood Masterplan is a non-statutory document that provides guidance on the implementation and application of the Local Plan in the MNSN area.

• Key considerations: The committee considered the proposal's alignment with the MNSN Masterplan and Local Plan policies, its impact on the character and amenity of the surrounding area, and its contribution to sustainable development.

• Public and consultee comments: The council received 22 objections from 15 households, raising concerns about loss of green space, flooding, infrastructure capacity, housing mix, anti-social behaviour, and construction disruption. Leicestershire County Council Highways initially raised concerns but later offered conditional support.

• Conditions for approval: The approval is subject to conditions relating to:

  • Adherence to approved plans and details
  • Implementation of parking and turning facilities
  • Provision of visibility splays at the school access
  • Details of play equipment
  • Details of PV solar panels
  • Details of external illumination