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Green Belt Solar Farm Approved

Renewables provider Earthworm Energy has secured planning approval for a 4 MW solar farm on nine hectares of land in the Nottingham-Derby Green Belt.

National planning, design and economics consultancy Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners (NLP), acting for Earthworm, highlighted the "˜very special circumstances' of the scheme, near Calverton, Notts.

Planning authority Gedling Borough Council unanimously accepted NLP and Earthworm's case that the proposals constituted a "˜sustainable development' in the green belt.

The successful application, approved on Wed Aug 24, goes against the grain of recent UK Green Belt solar farm decisions, which have seen proposed developments refused, or rejected on appeal, by the Government.

James Cox, senior planner at NLP, said: "We are delighted to have secured planning permission for this development which will help secure a viable future for the farm on which it is housed, as well as helping the UK hit its renewable energy targets.

"Solar farms are not an uncommon in the UK Green Belt and, despite the spate of recent adverse decisions, many previous developments have been allowed on the basis of their "˜very special circumstances'.

"The "˜very special circumstances' test sets a high bar but by working closely with the developers, the farm owners and officers at Gedling Borough Council we were able to provide the necessary evidence to clear this hurdle."

As well as the economic and environmental benefits NLP highlighted how the site is adjacent to an existing Green Belt development - the Calverton Hill Care Home - and as such will not contribute to any urban sprawl.

It is also partially bordered by mature woodland which will help reduce any adverse visual impact of 15,000 photovoltaic panels.

Using an innovative, GIS-based methodology, NLP provided an Alternative Site Assessment (ASA) to successfully demonstrate that there are no other suitable sites within the local area, where the solar farm could operate viably.

Mr Cox continued: "Additional site specific facts which supported the application included the close proximity of the site to a National Grid connection point and the fact that Earthworm is keen to allow the site to be used as an educational resource for local schools. Its temporary, 25 year, life, also helped."

He added: "The development will allow the site to remain in agricultural use, with livestock able to graze the land surrounding the solar array."

A spokesman for Daventry-based Earthworm Energy said: "We are delighted that Gedling BC planning committee have granted us planning permission for this project and thank them for maintaining an objective view on what represents an appropriate development within the Green Belt. We are delighted with the work that Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners have done in presenting our case and securing approval for this development".

NLP has been at the forefront of a number of successful solar schemes, having recently helped secure planning permission for a 17 MW solar farm at Watnall, Notts as well as a 5MW solar farm at Duns Tew, Oxfordshire. Mr Cox added: "It is important to show that the  proposal represents a sustainable development and benefits from some "˜very special circumstances' that will not give rise to any significant adverse impacts which could outweigh the clear public benefits of a scheme."


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