Following the public meeting with the developer JBM on 20th September, the Parish Council wrote to them with a couple of supplementary questions and it was felt that it would be useful to share these with everyone and JBM readily agreed. We will endeavour to update this from time to time when additional correspondence takes place.
There is no further news on when a formal application will be made but we understand that pre-ap conversations are continuing with the CDC planning department.
From: John Edwards <strattonaudley.je1@gmail.com>
Sent: 10 October 2022 17:38
To: Robin Johnson <robin.johnson@jbm-solar.com>
Cc: John Honsinger <jhonsinger@btconnect.com>
Subject: Re: Stratton Audley Community Meeting
Hi Robin,
Thanks for the prompt response.
I’m assuming you’re happy for us to onward publish these on the village website? Let me know, thanks.
Since the meeting something else in particular has been circulating in the community, and I wonder if I could get a response on this, too? I’ve framed it as a couple of questions so they would sit alongside the others:
Can JBM confirm that the cable proposed to be laid through the village is only of sufficient capacity for the planned Padbury Brook Solar Farm? I can confirm this is the case, the cable installed would be of the required standard/specification to cover the export requirements of the solar farm.
Can JBM confirm the capacity of the Skimmingdish Lane substation, and explain, in layperson’s terms, how many solar developments such as Padbury Brook could be run through it? As far as we are aware, there is no additional capacity to export energy, beyond the secured grid offer which we have obtained and hold for the solar farm, from any additional/future projects of this type via this substation.
Thanks
John Edwards
On Fri, Oct 7, 2022 at 4:11 PM Robin Johnson <robin.johnson@jbm-solar.com> wrote:
Afternoon John/John,
Many thanks for sending this through, and thanks again for organizing the event. I do hope all is well.
I very much appreciated the opportunity to engage with residents in a constructive and meaningful way, and thought you moderated the discussion exceptionally well, ensuring everyone had the opportunity to have their voice heard. I have since had the opportunity to meet a number of additional residents to discuss the proposals further and had some very constructive conversations as a result of the session.
With regards to the points raised below;
- In response to issues raised about not receiving the consultation documents you offered personal correspondence with anyone who wishes to enter dialogue
Quite right. As noted above, a number of people have taken me up on this offer, but people are more than welcome to reach out to me via phone, in writing or via email to arrange further discussion.
- There was a request from some residents to see the Independent Report that Graded the land
This will form part of the full planning application and will be visible in full to anyone who wishes to view this document once the application has been submitted.
- There was a request from some residents to be able to access the land to undertake a second survey
We are confident in the methodology and findings of our independent ALC report. The surveyor’s work has been scrutinised at the highest levels of the planning system, including at major public inquiries where it’s methodology and results have been found to be sound, so we have no reason whatsoever to doubt their findings or work. As a result of this, we do not believe another survey is warranted, and would encourage people to view the ALC report when it is made publicly available before passing further comment and needlessly wasting their time/resource.
- Provide details of the two other projects currently under construction
Details of both schemes can be found here https://renews.biz/71256/baywa-re-picks-up-two-uk-solar-sites/
The sites under construction are the ‘Corner Copse’ solar farm in Swindon, and the ‘Scurf Dyke’ solar farm in East Riding (Yorkshire). Both are 49.9MW schemes, and of a similar size to Padbury Brook (44MW). Since our last discussion, an additional 2 JBM developed solar farms (both developed by myself) are now expected to commence construction very shortly. These are the 25MW ‘Eastfields’ Solar Farm, located to the northeast of the town of Harbury, Warwickshire (developed with the support of the Harbury parish council and local ward member), and the 49.9MW ‘Bunker’s Hill’ Solar Farm located to the north of Hook (Hampshire)(this project did not receive support from the parish council at the time of application, but we were very pleased to agree to provide funding (upon commencement of the site) for some important local projects/initiatives as part of the development). Having developed these projects myself, I will of course be keeping a close eye on them, and can provide further detail as soon as it becomes available.
- I also thought it might be useful if you re-stated the build duration and also the connecting cable laying duration
In terms of the overall construction of the site, this is expected to take 24 weeks (with the last c. 4-6 weeks used for ‘site beautification’, i.e general tidying of the site, planting trees / hedging etc). In terms of the cable route running through Stratton Audley, we can undertake 100m of cable installation per day (including excavation, ducting and re-surfacing). There is a distance of approx. 975m between the first driveway in the north of Stratton Audley (Lodge Farm, off Mill Road) to the last exiting driveway in the south of the village (The Kennels, Bicester Road). This means a disruption period totalling 10 working days would be required to complete the works through Stratton Audley. The centre of the village would likely be affected for a period of less than a week (as there is just 275m from the junction where Mill Road meets Cavendish Place, and the turning onto West Cotts/Bicester Road).
On a separate note, I wanted to confirm that I would like to propose a community benefit fund of £150,000 be established which will be paid upon the start of construction to support local projects and initiatives within Stratton Audley. This is not in any way linked to your decision to support or object to the scheme, and will not/cannot be considered by planning officers or members of the planning committee as it is a voluntary payment which holds no material planning weight (as S106 cannot be applied to solar developments).
Please find the plan presented at the meeting attached to this email. Please note that following meetings with residents, there are a few changes we are making as a result of these discussions, and I will forward on the most up to date plan once the relevant changes have been made.
Kind regards,Robin
Padbury Brook Solar Project Manager
07901270413
From: John Edwards <strattonaudley.je1@gmail.com>
Sent: 06 October 2022 18:35
To: Robin Johnson <robin.johnson@jbm-solar.com>
Cc: John Honsinger <jhonsinger@btconnect.com>; Kathryn Walker <wrt.kathryn@gmail.com>
Subject: Stratton Audley Community Meeting
The sender (gmail.com) is outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Hi Robin,
There were a few items that we said that we would remind you about so you could respond, or repeat offers you made on the night. The ones we noted are below:
- In response to issues raised about not receiving the consultation documents you offered personal correspondence with anyone who wishes to enter dialogue
- There was a request from some residents to see the Independent Report that Graded the land
- There was a request from some residents to be able to access the land to undertake a second survey
- Provide details of the two other projects currently under construction
- I also thought it might be useful if you re-stated the build duration and also the connecting cable laying duration
Robin If you want to come back to me, I will ensure that they are posted on the Village Website and people are directed there to read them. Similarly, the specific changes you took the meeting through which has been made in response to the consultation event held at the end of July.
Kathryn, by copy if there’s anything I have missed, do please add to this.
Thanks
John Edwards