Manor Farm, Land to the East of Denchworth, Oxfordshire, OX12 0HP

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposed development would result in harm to the landscape character, historic features and tranquillity of the area, including the wider setting of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape.
• Whether the proposed development would result in material effects to the setting of nearby listed buildings and the Denchworth Conservation Area, and if so what level of harm would this result in.
• Whether there is sufficient information and detail to ensure the ecology and biodiversity of the site would be preserved and enhanced where possible. Furthermore, would the proposed mitigation be sufficient to safeguard the priority species of skylarks breeding and foraging at the site.

What decided it

The substantial public benefit of renewable energy generation, including the large volume of clean energy produced, was found to clearly and convincingly outweigh the significant landscape harm and less than substantial heritage harm identified.

The significant landscape harm and great-weight less-than-substantial heritage harm were outweighed by the very great benefits of renewable energy generation, together with biodiversity and economic benefits, tipping the balance in favour of allowing the appeal despite conflict with some development plan policies.