Land South of Runwell Road, Runwell, Wickford, Essex, SS11 7QH

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the impact of the solar farm development on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
• the effect of the development on the landscape character and visual amenity of the area
• the impact on heritage assets
• the impact of the development in terms of flood risk and flood policy
• whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations to provide the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development

What decided it

The substantial and significant benefits of renewable energy generation, grid connection security, BESS co-location and biodiversity gains clearly outweighed the identified Green Belt, landscape and heritage harms, establishing very special circumstances.

the substantial weight given to renewable energy generation and climate benefits, together with significant weight to the grid connection offer, BESS co-location and biodiversity net gain, clearly outweighed the substantial Green Belt harm, moderate landscape and visual harm, and less than substantial heritage harm, amounting to very special circumstances justifying the development