The proposed farm would have brought a 50% biodiversity net gain. Image: West Burton Solar Project.

Wiltshire Council has denied planning permission for a solar farm proposal submitted by renewable energy developer Low Carbon.

The proposed project, named Beech Tree Solar Farm, was proposed for development on land just outside of Coombe Bissett, Wiltshire, and would have had a 30MW generation capacity and a lifespan of 40 years.

Matt Lomax, planning manager at Low Carbon, spoke in support of the application at a meeting in Trowbridge y Hall, noting that the proposals would have brought a biodiversity net gain of 50% to the area through the planting of species-rich wildflowers around the site and the creation of new hedgerows.

However, council leader Cllr Richard Clewer noted that information on grid connection had not been included with the application, saying 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 local news sources.

Environmental concerns were also cited as reasons for the rejection, including the potential for tunnelling under the River Ebble and the positioning of 50% of the development on best and most versatile agricultural land.

The final decision document states the reason for refusal as “In the absence of details related to the connection of the panels to the national grid, and the details of any battery storage facilities, the Council considers that the proposal would have an adverse impact on the wider landscape, the river system, and its biodiversity.”

Planning problems on the rise

This refusal follows recent news of another local authority launching a legal challenge against a solar project.

Suffolk y Council has written to the UK government criticising the decision to approve planning permission for a 500MW solar and storage project on the y border, marking the first step in potential judicial proceedings against the Sunnica-developed project.

Suffolk y Council argue that Energy Secretary Ed Miliband failed to consider funding arguments that were made at the time of the planning application and called Miliband’s choice to approve the project “a terrible start to his tenure”.

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