The next meeting of East Cambs District Council’s Planning Committee on 2 September will consider an application from Amberlea Country Kennels and Cattery.

(Amberlea is not in Sutton ward, but in next-door Downham Villages – the boundary between the two wards runs between The Chestnuts and Rose Barn).

The application is for change of use of a field from agricultural to kennels use (for dog exercising and training), a new access from the existing field access, a proposed solar array of eighty photovoltaic cells, reed bed waste disposal, the creation of additional parking, and new fencing and gates.

The application is to be determined by the Planning Committee because the council has decided that it will not delegate to officers the power to grant permission for solar panels that are not on a domestic or commercial building. All such applications, however small, have to be referred to the committee even if, as in this case, the panels are behind a building.

Details of the application are as usual online – the planning reference number is 15/00438/FUM.