Axis is very happy to report on a planning appeal success involving a scheme to restore a former limebed to create a platform for a new 22MW solar farm and BESS in Winnington, Northwich.
This appeal decision is the culmination of a complex, multi-year planning journey for a technically challenging site. Originally submitted as an application in 2023, the project involved a wide range of environmental and planning issues – from stability and land contamination to flooding, biodiversity, and sustainable design – all of which were successfully addressed through the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process led by Axis.
The scheme was promoted by a joint venture client team – Infinis (solar), Green Earth Developments (landform design), and Tata Chemicals (landowner). The collaborative nature of this project, combined with the site’s industrial history and technical constraints, made this a uniquely challenging but rewarding project to get approval for.
The planning application was recommended for approval by officers but turned down by Members last year. This was on the basis that it would generate some 224 daily two-way HGV movements through parts of Northwich for between 4–5 years whilst the restoration works, involving the importation of some 1.28 million cubic metres of soil, are under way.
The main issues at the appeal hearing for the scheme, on a site known as Wallerscote Limebeds, were the effects of the HGV traffic delivering restoration soils on the local highway network, and whether any material considerations would outweigh any conflict with the development plan.
The team at Axis were able to successfully demonstrate to the Inspector that:
- The Environmental Statement we prepared appropriately assessed the environmental effects of the scheme, including on transport matters, and was compliant with the 2017 Regs;
- The additional HGV traffic could be safely and satisfactorily accommodated on the selected routes along the local highway network;
- The mitigation provided, which includes a Routing Strategy secured via S106 Agreement, would be appropriate;
- Pedestrian and cyclist safety would not be unduly compromised by the additional HGV movements;
- The impacts of the additional HGV traffic on three local historic bridges should not represent a reason to dismiss the appeal;
- The overall percentage impacts of additional development-related traffic would not be so onerous as to represent a reason to dismiss the appeal, and would be temporary in nature;
- There are significant benefits arising from the approved scheme, including the reduced potential for contaminant leaching from the historic limebeds, BNG benefits, new permissive paths and of course, renewable energy generation.
Our team’s ability to bring together environmental, landscape, engineering and transport disciplines – and manage them through the planning and appeal processes – was instrumental to the outcome.
Lee Kendall, Technical Director in Transport Planning at Axis said:
“An awful lot of work went into the pre-app, the application and then the appeal from Axis. A special mention should go to Laura Mackey and Alex Bannister who did, by far, the lion’s share of the work. This is their success as much as anyone’s, and we are all very happy and relieved to get the right, positive decision for our superb clients. We are also grateful to The Planning Inspectorate for issuing the decision only three weeks after the Hearing.”
As the UK works to accelerate progress towards net zero, projects like this one play a vital role. The inspector recognised that the renewable energy provision would contribute significantly to national decarbonisation goals, including reducing demand on the national grid and helping a major industrial user transition to a lower-carbon energy source.
Combined with the resolution of long-standing contaminated land issues, this made for a highly valuable and deliverable scheme.
Read the full Appeal Decision here: Appeal Decision 3359308 | Appeal Ref: APP:A0665:W:25:3359308 Land at Winnington Avenue, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 4EE