®Planning appeal decision
Land west of Berrington, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY5 6HA
‘erection of an up to 30MW solar PV array, comprising ground mounted solar PV panels, vehicular access, internal access tracks, landscaping and associated infrastructure, including security fencing, CCTV, client storage containers and grid connection infrastructure, including substation buildings and off-site cabling’
- Authority
- Shropshire County Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- utilities-energy · Other Major Developments
- Inspector
- Clegg R
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The implications of the proposed development for meeting the challenge of climate change.
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area.
- The implications of the proposed development for best and most versatile agricultural land.
- The effect of the proposed development on skylarks.
- The effect of other considerations on the overall planning balance.
What decided it
The significant weight attached to the early and substantial contribution the solar farm would make to renewable electricity generation, supported by an available grid connection, outweighed the moderate harm to landscape character and the underuse of best and most versatile agricultural land.
The significant benefit of early renewable energy generation, together with significant biodiversity net gain and a moderate soil-health benefit, clearly outweighed the moderate harm to landscape character/visual amenity and the moderate harm from failing to make the most effective use of BMV agricultural land.
Framework references: 168, 187, 193, 212, 186
Plan policies cited: Policy CS8, Policy MD8, Policy DP26, Policy DP18(4), Policy CS6, Policy CS17, Policy MD13, Policy CS5, Policy CS13, Policy MD12, Policy MD16, Policy CS18
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.