Planning Application Details

The development to which this permission relates must be begun not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date of this permission. Reason: By virtue of Sections 91 to 95 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

That the development hereby approved shall be carried out in accordance with the details shown on the following approved plans, SP-01 Rev 11 - Site Location Plan PL-01 Rev 14 - Proposed Site Layout SD-01 Rev 01 - Customer Substation (Plan) SD-01 Rev 01 - Customer Substation (Plan and Section) SD-03 Rev 01 - 40ft Spare parts Container SD-09 Rev 01 - Water tank & Pump SD-05 Rev 01 - Power Conversion System SD-13 Rev 01 - LV Switchroom SD-02 Rev 01 - Customer Switchgear SD-12 Rev 01 - Client Control Room SD-04 Rev 02 - Battery Unit SD-03 Rev 01 - 40ft Welfare Container EL-02 Rev 05 - Contextual Elevation Plan EL-01 Rev 05 - Contextual Elevation Plan SD-07 Rev 01 - CCTV Camera and Post SD-08 Rev 01 - Access Track SD-06 Rev 02 - 3m Welded V-Mesh Security Fence and Gate 996/01Rev J - Landscape Strategy 996/02 Rev C - Landscape Sections Sheet 1 996/03 Rev A - Landscape Sections Sheet 2 except as controlled or modified by conditions of this permission. Reason: To secure the proper planning of the area in accordance with Development Plan policies.

This planning permission is for a temporary period of 30 years from the date of first operation of the development hereby permitted. Decommissioning of the Battery Energy Storage System, comprising discontinuance and removal of all buildings, works, uses of land and other development hereby permitted and the restoration of the land to its former condition shall take place within 12 months of the expiry of this permission. At least 6 months before the planning permission is due to expire, a Decommissioning Method Statement (to include a timetable for implementation and a scheme to restore the land to its former condition) shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The site shall be decommissioned and restored in accordance with the approved statement. Reason: Because of the temporary nature of the development and in order to safeguard the amenities of the area and protect the rural character of the area in accordance with Policies STRAT6, ENV1, DES1 and DES9 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.

In the event the development ceases to export electricity to the grid for a continuous period of 12 months, a scheme of restoration for the removal of the Battery Energy Storage System and any associated equipment, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority within 3 months from the end of the 12-month period. The restoration scheme shall include details of the retention of any approved boundary treatment(s) and planting. The approved scheme of restoration shall then be fully implemented within 6 months of written approval being given. Reason: Because of the temporary nature of the development and in order to safeguard the amenities of the area and protect the rural character of the area in accordance with Policies ENV1, DES1 and DES9 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.

No development shall take place until details of existing and finished site levels relative to a fixed datum point on adjoining land outside of the application site, have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be undertaken in accordance with the approved details. Reason: In the interests of the visual appearance of the development in accordance with Policies DES1 and DES2 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.

No development shall take place, including vegetation clearance or ground works, until a construction environmental management plan for Biodiversity (CEMP: Biodiversity) has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The CEMP (Biodiversity) shall include the following: a) Update ecological surveys for relevant habitats and species. Update surveys shall follow national good practice guidelines. b) Risk assessment of potentially damaging construction activities. c) Identification of biodiversity protection zones. d) Practical measures (both physical measures and sensitive working practices) to avoid, reduce or mitigate the impacts on important habitats and protected species during construction. e) The location and timing of sensitive works to avoid harm to biodiversity features. f) The times during construction when specialist ecologists need to be present on site to oversee works. g) Responsible persons and lines of communication. h) Use of protective fences, exclusion barriers and warning signs. The approved CEMP (Biodiversity) shall be adhered to and implemented throughout the construction period strictly in accordance with the approved details. Reason: To avoid impacts on protected species and other ecological features during construction, in line with Policy ENV2 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.

No development shall take place until a scheme for the landscaping of the site, including the planting of live trees and shrubs, the treatment of the access road and hard standings, and the provision of boundary treatment has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Details shall include schedules of new trees and shrubs to be planted (noting species, plant sizes and numbers/densities), the identification of the existing trees and shrubs on the site to be retained (noting species, location and spread), any earth moving operations and finished levels/contours, an implementation programme and long term management plan. The scheme shall be implemented before the development is bought into operation and thereafter be maintained in accordance with the approved scheme. In the event of any of the trees or shrubs so planted dying or being seriously damaged or destroyed within 5 years of the completion of the development, a new tree or shrub or equivalent number of trees or shrubs, as the case may be, of a species first approved by the Local Planning Authority, shall be planted and properly maintained in a position or positions first approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Reason: To help to assimilate the development into its surroundings in accordance with Policies ENV1, DES1 and DES2 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.

No development shall take place, including vegetation clearance, until an Arboricultural Method Statement and accompanying Tree Protection Plan has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The Arboricultural Method Statement must include the following: a) A specification of any pruning or tree surgery works to any trees to be retained, to prevent accidental damage by construction or demolition activities. b) The specification and location of temporary tree protective fencing and any ground protection required to protect all retained trees in accordance with the current edition of BS 5837 ''Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction'', and details of the timing and duration of its erection. c) The definition of areas for the storage or stockpiling of materials, temporary on-site parking, site offices and huts, mixing of cement or concrete, and fuel storage. d) The means of demolition of any existing site structures within Root Protection Areas of trees to be retained, and the re-instatement of the area they currently occupy. e) The route and method of installation of any underground services in the RPA of retained trees; Consideration will be made to avoid siting of utilities and service runs within the Root Protection Area (RPA) of all trees to be retained. Only where it can be demonstrated that there is no alternative location for the laying of utilities, will encroachment into the RPA be considered. Methodology for any installation works within the RPA will be provided and must be in compliance with the current edition of NJUG 'Guidelines for the planning and installation and maintenance of utility apparatus in proximity to trees'. f) The details and method of construction of any other structures such as boundary walls in the RPA of retained trees and how these relate to existing ground levels. g) The details of materials and method of construction of any roadway, driveway, parking, pathway or other surfacing within the RPA, which is to be of a 'No Dig' construction method, in accordance with the principles with in Arboricultural Association Guidance Note 12 "The use of cellular confinement systems near trees", and in accordance with current industry best practice; and is appropriate for the type of roadway required in relation to its usage. h) A specification of the foundation design demonstrating absolute minimal soil excavation, soil compaction or soil contamination within the root protection area of the adjacent trees. i) Provision for the supervision of ANY works within the RPA of trees to be retained, and for the monitoring of continuing compliance with the protective measures specified, by an appropriately qualified arboricultural consultant, to be appointed at the developer's expense and notified to the Local Planning Authority, prior to the commencement of development; and provision for the regular reporting of continued compliance or any departure there from to the Local Planning Authority. Thereafter the development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details with the agreed measures being kept in place during the entire course of development. Reason: To safeguard trees which are visually important in accordance with Policies ENV1, DES1, and DES2 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.

No development shall take place until a detailed sustainable drainage scheme has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. This shall be based on the Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy reference J15433 dated 25/03/2025, sustainable drainage principles and an assessment of the hydrological and hydrogeological context of the development. The scheme shall not be brought into use until the surface drainage works has been carried out and completed in accordance with the approved details. The scheme to be submitted shall include: a) A compliance report to demonstrate how the scheme complies with the "Local Standards and Guidance for Surface Water Drainage on Major Development in Oxfordshire." b) Full drainage calculations for all events up to and including the 1 in 100yr plus climate change event (Note: the CV values should be set to 0.95 for roof areas and 0.9 for paved areas and the latest FEH input date should be used). c) Fully detailed sustainable surface water drainage layouts. d) Proposed site and floor levels. e) SUDS features and sections. f) Details of control chamber and penstock / valve. g) Drainage Construction Details. h) Maintenance and Management Plan covering all surface water drainage and SUDS features. i) Details of how water quality will be managed during construction and in perpetuity. Reason: To prevent pollution and flooding in accordance with Policies ENV12 and EP4 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.

No development shall take place until a Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The approved CTMP shall be implemented prior to any works being carried out on site and shall be maintained throughout the course of the development. Reason: In the interests of highway safety and to mitigate the impact of construction vehicles on the surrounding highway network, road infrastructure and local residents, particularly at morning and afternoon peak traffic times and in accordance with Policy TRANS5 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.

Notwithstanding any description of materials in the application no works involving the use of any external facing materials shall take place until a full specification of materials to be used externally on the buildings, battery containers and inverters / transformers have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Such details shall include the type, colour, and texture of the materials. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details. Reason: In the interests of the visual appearance of the development in accordance with Policies DES1 and DES2 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.

The development hereby permitted shall not be bought into operation until a SUDS Compliance Report prepared by an appropriately qualified engineer has been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority. This must suitably demonstrate that the sustainable drainage system has been installed and completed in accordance with the approved scheme (or detail any minor variations). This report should as a minimum cover the following; a) Inclusion of as-built drawings in dwg and pdf and shp format. b) Inspection details of key SUDS features such as flow controls, storage features and volumes and critical linking features or pipework undertaken, with appropriate photographs and evidence of inspections incorporated at each key stage of construction and on completion. c) Details of any remediation works required following the initial inspection. d) Evidence that that remedial works have been completed. e) Details of management plan set up to maintain and operate the system. Reason: To ensure the proper provision of surface water drainage and to ensure flooding is not exacerbated in the locality in accordance with Policy EP4 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.

The development hereby permitted shall not be brought into operation until full details of a fire detection and suppression system have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out in strict accordance with the approved details. Reason: In the interests of public safety, security and to protect the surrounding natural environment in accordance with policy ENV12 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.

No external lighting shall be installed on site until a sensitive lighting strategy for bats has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The strategy shall protect the conservation status of local bat populations, by: a) Identifying those areas/features on site that are likely to be both sensitive for bats and vulnerable to disturbance from artificial lighting, including: known or potential breeding sites, resting places, foraging areas or important routes used to access key areas of their territory. b) demonstrating that the design and siting of the proposed lighting installation will not disturb or prevent bats using the areas identified in a) (through provision of appropriate lighting plans, isolux contour maps and technical specifications) All external lighting shall be installed in accordance with the specifications and locations set out in the approved strategy and retained as such thereafter. Reason: To avoid impacts on bats from insensitive external lighting in line with Policy ENV2 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2025.

The development hereby approved shall be constructed and operated in accordance with the acoustic assumptions and recommendations set out within the Noise Impact Assessment for Planning dated 11 October 2024. Reason: To protect the occupants of nearby residential properties from loss of amenity due to noise disturbance and in accordance with Policy ENV12 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.

The hours of operation for construction shall be restricted to 08:00-18:00 Monday to Friday and 08:00-13:00 on a Saturday. No work is permitted to take place on Sundays or Public Holidays without the prior written authority of the Local Planning Authority. Reason: To ensure that the development is not unneighbourly in accordance with Policy DES6 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.