Wiltshire Council has refused planning permission for a solar farm proposal submitted by renewable energy developer Low Carbon.
The proposed project, called Beech Tree Solar Farm, was proposed for development on land just outside Coombe Bissett, Wiltshire, and would have had a generation capacity of 30 MW and a lifespan of 40 years.
Matt Lomax, planning manager at Low Carbon, spoke in support of the application at a meeting at Trowbridge County Hall, noting that the proposals would have delivered a 50% net biodiversity gain to the area through the planting of species-rich wildflowers around the site and the construction of new hedges.
However, council leader Cllr Richard Clewer noted that no information about electricity connection was included with the application. He said that “it seems crazy to me to build a solar farm without a way to get the energy it generates into the grid,” according to the local government. news sources.
Environmental concerns were also cited as reasons for the rejection, including the potential for tunneling under the River Ebble and the positioning of 50% of the development on the best and most versatile agricultural land.
The final decision document states the reason for the refusal: “In the absence of details regarding the connection of the panels to the national electricity grid and the details of any battery storage facilities, the Council is of the opinion that the proposal would have a negative impact on the broader landscape, the river system and its biodiversity.”
Planning problems are increasing
This refusal follows recent news of another local government launching a legal battle against a solar energy project.
Suffolk County Council has written to the UK government criticizing the decision to approve planning permission for a 500MW solar and storage project on the county border. This marks the first step in possible legal proceedings against the project developed by Sunnica.
Suffolk County Council claims Energy Secretary Ed Miliband failed to take into account the funding arguments made at the time of the planning application and called Miliband’s choice to approve the project “a terrible start to his tenure”.
Councilor Richard Rout argued that the Energy Minister has “shown little respect for the communities affected, and for the local authorities who are having to take on significant amounts of additional work as a result of the progress of the project”, adding: “This is an embarrassing, clumsy and completely avoidable mistake by the Secretary of State. That is why we are taking legal action.”