The Strategic Planning Committee was scheduled to meet to discuss a planning application for a solar farm, as well as updates on planning appeals. The committee was also expected to review the minutes from their previous meeting. Public participation was also on the agenda, allowing members of the public to voice their opinions on the matters being discussed.

Planning Application: Townsend Farm, Poulshot

The committee was scheduled to consider planning application PL/2024/11631 for the installation of a solar farm at Townsend Farm in Poulshot, Devizes. Mr Michael Breslaw of Devizes Solar Ltd requested permission to install ground-mounted solar PV panels with a generating capacity of up to 13.5 MW, along with associated infrastructure. This would include solar panel mounts, a substation, inverters, storage containers, underground cabling, fencing, CCTV, internal roads and tracks, and landscape and ecological enhancements. The solar farm was proposed for a 40-year period.

The application was referred to the Strategic Planning Committee at the request of Councillor Tamara Reay, who raised concerns about the visual impact on the surrounding area, as well as potential environmental, highway, and drainage implications.

The report pack stated that the main issues to be addressed included:

• The principle of the development
• The impact on best and most versatile agricultural land
• Cumulative impacts
• Archaeology and heritage impact
• Landscape impact, design, and appearance
• Neighbour amenity
• Highway safety, access, and rights of way
• Flood risk and drainage
• Ecology and biodiversity

The planning officer's report recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions.

Key Points of the Planning Report

• Site Description: The proposed site is located in open countryside, approximately 900m west of Poulshot village. The area measures approximately 29 hectares and is comprised of agricultural land.
• Proposal Details: The solar farm would consist of solar panels mounted on steel and aluminium frames with a single axis tracker arrangement. The panels would be supported by pile-driven posts, with alternative solutions considered for areas of archaeological sensitivity. The panels would reach a maximum height of 3.0m and sit approximately 700mm off the ground at their lowest point.
• Underground Cabling: The proposed underground cable route would run to the north of the site, connecting to the grid at a pylon approximately 1.8km to the north-east of the main site area.
• Access: Access to the site for construction and operational vehicles would be from the existing access point off Poulshot Road to the south-east of the site. A new internal access road, approximately 3.5m wide, with passing places, was proposed for vehicle movement from the site access point to the main plant area.
• Decommissioning: At the decommissioning stage, all infrastructure associated with the development would be fully removed from the site, and the land would be restored to its former condition or an agreed after-use.
• Relevant Policies: The report identified several relevant policies, including Core Policy 42 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy (WCS), which supports standalone renewable energy installations where individual and cumulative impacts have been satisfactorily addressed.
• Consultation Responses: Poulshott Parish Council objected to the application, raising concerns about drainage, environmental flooding, the height of the solar panels, and the lack of community benefits. Worton Parish Council commented on the potential increase in traffic and the height and glare of the panels.
• Agricultural Land: The report noted that the site is classified as a mixture of Grade 3 (good to moderate quality) and Grade 4 (poor quality) agricultural land.
• Cumulative Impacts: The report acknowledged concerns about the cumulative impacts of solar farm development in the area and stated that the Council's Landscape Officer had carried out a thorough assessment.
• Archaeology and Heritage: The report stated that the site has revealed significant Romano-British archaeological remains.
• Landscape Impact: The report stated that the site is currently well screened by existing mature hedgerow with trees.
• Public Rights of Way: The report noted that multiple public rights of way lie within the vicinity of the site.

Planning Appeals and Updates

Kenny Green, Planning Manager, was scheduled to provide a brief update on planning appeals related to items determined by the Strategic Planning Committee. The report pack included details of appeals received or determined since the committee's last meeting. The determined appeal related to application PL/2023/10394, Land South of Salisbury Road, nr Homington, Coombe Bissett, Salisbury, which was for a solar farm. The planning inspector had allowed the appeal with conditions.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The committee was scheduled to approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2025. The minutes of the previous meeting included a discussion of application PL/2023/10559 for land at Maxcroft Farm, Marsh Road, Hilperton, Trowbridge. The committee delegated to the head of Development Management to grant outline planning permission subject to conditions and a Section 106 legal agreement¹.