®Planning appeal decision
Land to the south and west of Marsh Green, Marsh Green, East Devon, EX5 2LU
for the construction and operation of a ground mounted solar farm and associated landscaping and ecological habitat, with permission being required for 40 years, comprising solar arrays, equipment housing, sub-station, fencing, ancillary equipment and associated development; and temporary change of use of land for construction compound (off site)
- Authority
- East Devon District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- utilities-energy · Other Major Developments
- Inspector
- Shrigley M
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the impact of the development on i) the character and appearance of the landscape
- the setting of nearby heritage assets
- iii) the overall merits of the development having regard to any harms or benefits
What decided it
The substantial public benefits of clean, secure renewable energy generation, combined with significant biodiversity net gain and flood risk betterment, were found to far outweigh the identified landscape, heritage and agricultural land harms.
the substantial benefits of renewable energy generation, biodiversity net gain and flood risk betterment outweighed the significant landscape harm, less than substantial heritage harm, limited archaeological harm and limited agricultural land harm, such that the appeal was allowed despite some conflict with the development plan
Framework references: 174, 202, 203
Plan policies cited: Strategy 39 (Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Projects), Strategy 46 (Landscape Conservation and Enhancement of AONB's), Strategy 47, Policy EN9 (Development Affecting Heritage Assets), Policy EN5, Policy EN13, Policy EN22
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.