Solar farm plans near Ludlow are thrown out

A scaled down 14-acre, 4.3MW solar installation on farmland at Whitton, near Ludlow, would "considerably harm the character and distinctiveness of the local countryside", according to planning inspector Jonathan Hockley.

His decision follows one by fellow planning inspector Rosalyn Kirby over an earlier, separate application for a larger 43-acre, 8.6MW scheme at the same site. Ms Kirby dismissed that appeal in March.

Both applications, the first for a larger solar farm, the second for a scaled down version, were previously thrown out by Shropshire Council's south planning committee, but in both cases developer EBS Energy appealed to the national Planning Inspectorate, insisting the schemes were in line with planning policy.

Campaigners have called the two dismissals a "victory for common sense".

In his report, Mr Hockley said the second solar farm proposal had its benefits. He said: "Planning should support the transition to a low carbon future in a changing climate and encourage the development of renewable energy.

"I also ascribe benefits to the proposal from farm diversification and biodiversity."

He also said some of the objections to the scheme were groundless.

"I have not found that the proposal would have an adverse effect on views into and out of, or the setting of Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) or that the proposal would result in the irreversible loss of best and most versatile agricultural land," he said.

However, he said: "On the other hand, for the reasons identified above I consider that the proposal would considerably harm the character and distinctiveness of the local countryside."

He said it went against the core planning principle that "planning should recognise the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside".

"The proposal would also cause material harm to the enjoyment of the users of the public rights of way identified."

He said while the developers had shown evidence that landscaping such as trees and hedges could shield the panels from view, he was "not convinced that such mitigation would be established in required time scales or that all such mitigation is necessarily desirable."

The dismissal of the second Whitton appeal will come as a blow for green energy supporters, but a boon to campaigners such as Save South Shropshire Countryside.

Peter van Duijvenvoorde, chairman the group, which objected to half a dozen large solar farm applications planned for south Shropshire fields in 2014 and 2015, said: "It is great news for common sense."

Two other solar farms sites fought against by the campaign group, and thrown out by Shropshire Council, had their appeals upheld and were given the go-ahead by planning inspectors earlier this year, at Henley Bank in Acton Scott, near Church Stretton, and at High Point Farm in Neen Sollars, near Cleobury Mortimer.

Residents in Neen Sollars have now called for a judicial review of the planning inspector's High Point Farm decision.