®Planning appeal decision
Fields OS 6700 6722 And 5200, Muston Lane, Easthorpe, NG13 9LD
the construction of a solar farm, together with all associated work, equipment and necessary infrastructure
- Authority
- Melton Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- 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 effect of the proposed development on heritage assets.
- The effect of the proposed development on nature conservation interests.
- Whether the proposed development would be consistent with the Development Plan.
- The effect of other considerations on the overall planning balance.
What decided it
The public benefits of the proposal, particularly the early and substantial contribution to renewable energy generation and biodiversity net gain, were found to outweigh the less than substantial heritage harm and the significant landscape/visual harm.
The benefits of renewable energy provision and biodiversity net gain (significant weight), flood risk reduction (moderate weight), and permissive path/economic/education benefits (limited weight) outweighed the significant landscape and visual harm and the great weight given to less than substantial heritage harm to five designated assets, tipping the balance in favour of the proposal.
Framework references: 157, 163, 168, 180, 186, 187, 205, 208, 212, 215, 139, 57, 56, 49
Plan policies cited: Policy SS1, Policy SS2, Policy EN1, Policy EN1(II), Policy EN2, Policy EN3, Policy EN10, Policy EN11, Policy EN13, Policy D1, Policy D1(a), Neighbourhood Plan Policy 1, Neighbourhood Plan Policy 2, Neighbourhood Plan Policy 3, Neighbourhood Plan Policy 5, Neighbourhood Plan Policy 9
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.