®Planning appeal decision
land at Crays Hall Farm, Church Lane, Crays Hill, CM11 2UN
installation of renewable energy generating station comprising ground mounted photovoltaic solar arrays together with substation, transformer stations, site accesses, internal access tracks, security measures, access gates, other ancillary infrastructure and landscaping and biodiversity enhancements
- Authority
- Basildon District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- utilities-energy · Other Major Developments
- Inspector
- Jackson P
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposed new solar farm and associated infrastructure on the openness of the Metropolitan Green Belt, taking into account the existing Outwood Solar Farm
- The effect on landscape character and visual amenity
- Whether an undertaking or agreement is necessary to make the development acceptable in terms of the effects on farmland birds, healthcare, decommissioning and monitoring
- Whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development
What decided it
The very significant renewable energy, environmental and biodiversity benefits, combined with the lack of alternative suitable sites, clearly outweighed the Green Belt, landscape and visual harm, amounting to very special circumstances.
The substantial benefits of renewable energy generation, significant biodiversity enhancements and continued agricultural grazing use, together with the lack of alternative sites, clearly outweighed the harm by reason of inappropriateness and the other landscape, visual and Green Belt harm identified, amounting to very special circumstances justifying the development.
Framework references: 158, 151, 174, 11
Judgments cited: R (on the application of Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster) and others) (Respondents) v North Yorkshire County Council (Appellant); [2020]; Wychavon DC v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government [2008] EWCA Civ 692; [2009]
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.