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Planning appeal decision

Allowed24 February 20253351763

Lower Farm, Drointon, Stafford, ST18 0LX

Planning appeal 3351763 at Lower Farm, Drointon, Stafford, ST18 0LX (Stafford Borough Council) was allowed on 24 February 2025 by Inspector Normington S, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the site and surrounding area.

the installation and operation of solar farm and energy storage system with associated landscaping, underground cabling, works, equipment and infrastructure

Authority
Stafford Borough Council
Appeal type
major · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Hearing
Development
utilities-energy · Major general industry/storage/warehousing
Inspector
Normington S
Postcode
ST18 0LX

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the site and surrounding area.

What decided it

The very significant public benefits of renewable energy generation, energy storage and biodiversity net gain clearly and decisively outweighed the moderate landscape/visual harm and the low level of less than substantial heritage harm.

The moderate landscape and visual harm and the low level of less than substantial heritage harm were outweighed by the substantial benefits of renewable energy generation, biodiversity net gain and other material considerations, so the balance tipped in favour of allowing the appeal despite conflict with Policy N1.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy N1Policy N2Policy N3Policy N4Policy N9Policy T1Policy T2Policy DM13Policy DM14
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 187Paragraph 216Paragraph 168Paragraph 58

How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.

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The decision letter

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More decisions in Stafford

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025

  1. Allowed15 June 20266007019
    Land Adjacent to Higher Gorsty Birch Farm, Stallington Road, Blythe Bridge, ST11 9QH
  2. Dismissed2 June 20266006530
    Moss Fennen, Dickys Lane, Woodseaves, Stafford, ST20 0LB
  3. Allowed22 May 20266004546
    The Mount, Stowe Lane, Hixon, Staffordshire, ST18 0NB
  4. Allowed1 May 20266004319
    Land Opposite Beech Tree Farm, London Road, Pasturefields, Stafford, ST18 0RB
  5. Allowed9 July 20253359180
    Barn A, Moat Farm, Church Lane, Gayton, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST18 0HL

The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.