Success For Welsh Solar Farm
A scheme promoted by Cardiff-based renewable energy developer 3C Energy for a 10MW solar farm near Abergavenny, Monmouthshire has been approved at Appeal by the Planning Inspectorate in Wales.
Monmouthshire County Council's Planning Officer had recommended the application for approval but it was refused by planning committee members who considered it would significantly harm the visual amenity of the area and wider landscape qualities. The Council also introduced a belated claim during the Appeal inquiry that the use of high quality agricultural land would be contrary to policy and that the proposal should be subject to a sequential test to assess whether other suitable sites on lower quality land were available elsewhere in the area.
In rejecting the claims, Planning Inspector Clive Nield concluded that the proposed solar farm "would not have an unacceptable adverse effect on the character of the wider landscape area or the visual amenity of the area". In addressing the issue of quality of agricultural land, he confirmed that "the temporary nature and reversibility of the scheme would conserve the land quality resource for future use".
The inspector awarded partial costs to the developer due to the Council's late submission of evidence which led to an adjournment on the first day of the inquiry and extended its period.
It is estimated that the scheme will provide green electricity for circa 2,700 homes and contribute a CO2 saving of 4,800t saving per year. The site will remain in agricultural use with sheep grazing between the panels and the plant will be removed at the end of its operational life.
Jonathan Townend, Managing Director of 3C Energy, commented "we are very pleased with the outcome, which is an important decision for the solar energy industry in Wales. It reinforces our position that the temporary use of agricultural land to generate renewable energy while helping to sustain agricultural livelihoods is not inappropriate and that the presumption in England against using best and most versatile land for this purpose should not be automatically applied in Wales.
We are grateful for excellent team work of Morag Ellis QC, instructing solicitors Marrons Shakespeares, and expert witnesses from Pegasus PG, Cotswold Archaeology and Kernon who achieved a very satisfactory outcome on our behalf".
