Representation by Darlington Borough Council (Darlington Borough Council)
- Date submitted
- 17 May 2024
- Submitted by
- Local authorities
Darlington Borough Council (DBC), together with Stockton Borough Council and Durham County Council, are host authority for the Byers Gill Solar Farm Development Consent Order (DCO) application. The majority of the ‘order limits’ of the DCO are within the administrative boundary of DBC. As host authority DBC are automatically an Interested Party for the duration of the examination (Section 102(1)(c) of the Planning Act 2008) and do not need to register to participate, however welcome the opportunity to submit Relevant Representations. DBC have liaised with the applicants for some time and have provided comments throughout the pre-submission period, including the preparation of a Principal Areas of Disagreement Summary Statement (PADSS). DBC will provide detailed comments within its Local Impact Report (LIR) and may submit a Written Representation (WR) during the examination. The LIR will set out the views of DBC following a detailed appraisal of the DCO application. DBC consider that an assessment of the following issues is pertinent to the consideration of the case, and a full assessment of these will follow in the LIR: landscape and visual effects; impact on living conditions including noise, glint and glare, and air quality; ecology, biodiversity and trees; traffic and transport; impacts on the Public Rights of Way network; flood risk and drainage; archaeology; and heritage impacts. Detailed consideration is required of the individual impacts of the proposal, together with any cumulative impacts from other nearby developments including other solar farm developments or applications. DBC reserves the right to amend its position or comments following detailed analysis of the DCO documents and will continue to engage with the NSIP process and seek to work proactively with the Inspector and applicants in connection with this application.