Agenda and minutes

To confirm Cllr Tim Ball as Chair of the Planning Committee.

RESOLVED that Cllr Tim Ball be confirmed as Chair of the Planning Committee.

To confirm Cllr Paul Crossley as Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee.

RESOLVED that Cllr Paul Crossley be confirmed as Vice-Chair of Planning Committee.

The Democratic Services Officer will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

The Democratic Services Officer read out the emergency evacuation procedure.

Cllr Ruth Malloy was substituting for Cllr Deborah Collins who had submitted apologies for absence.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number and site in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest, (as defined in Part 4.4 Appendix B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officer before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Cllr Paul Crossley and Cllr Tim Warren declared interests in the following items on the main applications list and withdrew from the meeting during consideration of these items:

1 - 25/00791/VAR, 2 - 25/00790/VAR and 3 - 25/00789/VAR - Bath Rugby Club, Bath Recreation Ground, Pulteney Mews, Bathwick, Bath.

There was no urgent business.

To note that, regarding planning applications to be considered, members of the public who have given the requisite notice to Democratic Services will be able to make a statement to the Committee immediately before their respective applications are considered. There will be a time limit of 3 minutes for each proposal, i.e., 3 minutes for the Parish and Town Councils, 3 minutes for the objectors to the proposal and 3 minutes for the applicant, agent and supporters. This allows a maximum of 9 minutes per proposal.

The Democratic Services Officer informed the meeting of the process for public speakers to address the Committee.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 7 May 2025 as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 7 May be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The following item will be considered at 11am:

1.  24/03894/FUL - Parcel 2882, Water Lane, Paulton, Bristol, Bath And North East Somerset

The Committee considered:

1.  A report by the Head of Planning on the applications under the site visit applications list.

2.  Oral statements by members of the public and representatives.  A copy of the speakers’ list is attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes.

RESOLVED that in accordance with the delegated powers, the applications be determined as set out in the site visit applications decisions list attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes.

1.  24/03894/FUL - Parcel 2882, Water Lane, Paulton, Bristol

The Planning Officer introduced the report which considered an application for the temporary installation of a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) farm with battery storage along with continued agricultural use, ancillary infrastructure and security fencing, landscaping provision, ecological enhancements and associated works.  The application had been deferred from the previous meeting for a site visit.

The Committee was advised of the following updates:

1.  There had been 2 new objections submitted, and these were sent directly to the Committee and a copy was included in the public file. 

2.  In light of these submissions there was an update to the report to confirm that in terms of the landscape sensitivity assessment, the site was in area 7c and not 3b.  The planning application has been assessed as being in an area of low potential so there was no substantive change.  The amended wording of paragraphs 5 and 6 on page 24 was as follows:

"The Policies Map illustrates the geographically assessed landscape potential for renewable energy development within the district. A landscape led approach, based on the Landscape Sensitivity Assessment (LSA) for Renewable Energy Development (LUC, 2021), is set out by the Council. The proposed development is a Band D solar development (which covers 15-30 hectares). The application site is located within area 7C (Peasedown St John Ridge), which has low potential for Band C solar development (10-15 hectares) and low potential for Band D solar development. The proposals are a Band D proposal. The LSA clarifies that the maps within it should always be used alongside the assessment information and guidance prepared. The results are based on a strategic assessment of landscape potential, As such, the information shown does not replace the need for full technical assessments for individual sites as part of the planning process.

Therefore, each application must be assessed on its own merits and there is no reason why applications cannot come forward in areas set out in the LSA which have low potential for solar development of different scales. Impacts to landscape are further assessed within this report.”

3.  The comments received set out that the development was a Nationally

Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) as it would generate more than 50MW of electricity. This was not correct as the solar panels would generate 9.2MW and the battery storage would allow storage capacity of 49.5MW.  The batteries themselves were not generators of electricity

4.  The EIA process had regard to the decommissioning process as

this was part of the project.

5.  The applicant had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

The following items will be considered at 11am:

1.  25/00791/VAR - Bath Rugby Club, Bath Recreation Ground, Pulteney Mews, Bathwick, Bath

2.  25/00790/VAR - Bath Rugby Club, Bath Recreation Ground, Pulteney Mews, Bathwick, Bath

3.  25/00789/VAR - Bath Rugby Club, Bath Recreation Ground, Pulteney Mews, Bathwick, Bath

The following items will be considered at 2pm:

1.  24/03941/FUL - Ravenswell Lodge, Access Road to Ravenswell House, Charlcombe, Bath

2.  25/01724/TCA - Audley House, Park Gardens, Lower Weston, Bath

3.  25/01692/TCA - Audley House, Park Gardens, Lower Weston, Bath

The Committee considered:

1.  A report by the Head of Planning on the applications under the main applications list.

2.  Oral statements by members of the public and representatives.  A copy of the speakers’ list is attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes.

RESOLVED that in accordance with the delegated powers, the applications be determined as set out in the main applications decisions list attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes.

(Cllr Paul Crossley and Tim Warren declared an interest and withdrew from the meeting during the following 3 items).

The Chair reported the procedure for considering the 3 Bath Recreation Ground applications as follows:

1.  The Case Officer would introduce the 3 Bath Recreation Ground reports.

2.  The public speakers would be called to speak on the applications and the speaking time would be combined.

3.  Members would be invited to ask questions on the 3 applications.

4.  There would be a separate debate and vote on each of the 3 applications. 

1.  25/00791/VAR - Bath Rugby Club, Bath Recreation Ground, Pulteney Mews, Bathwick, Bath

2.  25/00790/VAR - Bath Rugby Club, Bath Recreation Ground, Pulteney Mews, Bathwick, Bath

3.  25/00789/VAR - Bath Rugby Club, Bath Recreation Ground, Pulteney Mews, Bathwick, Bath

The Case Officer introduced the first report which considered application 25/00791/VAR for the variation of condition 1 and removal of condition 2 of application 24/01261/VAR to facilitate the retention of the existing temporary stands in situ through to May 2027 and facilitate the retention of the East Stand during both summer 2025 and 2026.

She confirmed the officers’ recommendation that permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

The Case Officer introduced the second report which considered application 25/00790/VAR for the variation of condition 1 of application 21/05529/VAR to facilitate the retention of the existing temporary stands in situ through to May 2027.

She confirmed the officers’ recommendation that permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

The Case Officer introduced the third report which considered application 25/00789/VAR for the variation of condition 1 of application 21/05528/VAR to facilitate the retention of the existing temporary stands in situ through to May 2027.

She confirmed the officers’ recommendation that permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

The following public representations were received:

1.  Ceris Humphries, Pultney Estate Residents Association and Rosemary Carne, local resident, objecting to the applications.

2.  Tim Burden, agent, Tarquin McDonald Chief Executive of Bath Rugby and John Finn, Chief Executive, Bath Recreation Ltd, speaking in support of the applications.

Cllr Manda Rigby was in attendance as ward Councillor and read a statement summarised as below:

1.  Temporary planning permission had originally been given to all stands with a condition that the east stand would be taken down during the summer.

2.  The city of Bath had double heritage status, and the views should be protected.

3.  Local residents supported the stand being taken down and views being restored during the summer.

4.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

The Committee is asked to note the report.

The Committee considered the appeals report.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.