New plans for East Wellow solar farm months on from judicial review

Woodington Solar Limited, in Woodington Road, East Wellow, has applied to reduce the number of solar panels and alter the alignment of security fences and permissive paths.

The site has a long and complex planning history. In September last year, Chala Fiske, of Woodington Road, succeeded in bringing a judicial review to the High Court, with a judge ruling that planned amendments were incompatible with the original conditions.

The new application has had 10 objections. Mrs Fisk said: “The applicant states that this proposal is intended to be a roll-up of several previous amendments since the 2017 approval of 15/02591/FULLS, plus the attempted integration of the 2021 approval of 20/00814/FULLS. In so doing it “adds” without explanation or justification changes to the overall plan by including a new site layout plan.

“The problem with this is it does not address the deficiencies and inconsistencies previously called out by Objectors in both the Base 15/02591/FULLS and the Substation 20/00814/FULLS applications. 

“Unfortunately, however, it is wholly in keeping with the eight year track record of Pegasus, Hive Energy and Woodington Solar. It further demonstrates they cannot be trusted to put together a complete and coherent plan, so nothing can be taken on trust.”

READ MORE: Judge quashes solar farm permission at East Wellow

An objection from Les Mildon, footpath officer at Romsey Ramblers, said: "The defined route is to the west of the hedge for about 60m before passing to the east side. There is no evidence of any gap in the hedge, currently, to indicate the path has passed through in recent times.

"This anomaly should be resolved before planning consent can be granted with the options to utilise the definitive map alignment for the path (and permissive bridleway?) or to move the definitive map alignment by way of a Definitive Map Modification Order."

In July 2017, Test Valley Borough Council granted permission to Woodington Solar Limited for the development, which included ground-mounted solar panels and an electricity substation.

A condition said the development "shall not be carried out other than in complete accordance with the approved plans comprising drawings".

In May 2021, the council granted planning permission for the installation of a different electricity substation, ground-mounted solar panels, ancillary equipment, infrastructure and access. 

Last year, the High Court dismissed a judicial review challenge to the 2021 consent, brought by Mrs Fiske. 

This was followed by a third application to vary the conditions of the original consent, which was granted in April 2022.

Mrs Fiske began fresh judicial review action against the 2022 consent, contending that permission was unlawful.

In the new application's planning statement, it said: “As officers will be aware, the overall Woodington Solar Farm scheme has evolved since the original planning permission was granted in July 2017. This has necessitated amendments to the internal layout as well as to the equipment being delivered as part of this scheme, owing partly to technological advancements as well as general refinements made to the design scheme.

“The proposed amendments result in a general reduction in solar arrays from 101,304 to 82,376 which represents a reduction in overall site coverage of almost 300sqm.

“Over 2,000 square meters of internal track has been removed from the scheme through revisions. The proposals shown on the submitted Site Layout Plan consequently allow for further biodiversity benefits through greater provision of Conservation Areas within the site.”

For more information about the plan, search 23/03266/VARS on Test Valley Borough Council's online planning portal.