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Allowed23 July 20253359260

Chimmens Solar Farm, Land at Mussenden Lane, Horton Kirby, Kent , DA3 8NX

Planning appeal 3359260 at Chimmens Solar Farm, Land at Mussenden Lane, Horton Kirby, Kent , DA3 8NX (Sevenoaks District Council) was allowed on 23 July 2025 by Inspector Woolcock J, following an inquiry. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The application of Green Belt policy.

Construction and operation of a solar farm with all associated works, equipment, necessary infrastructure and biodiversity net gains. New access track

Authority
Sevenoaks District Council
Appeal type
major · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Inquiry
Development
utilities-energy · Major general industry/storage/warehousing
Inspector
Woolcock J
Postcode
DA3 8NX

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • The application of Green Belt policy.
  • The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, including cumulative impact.
  • The effect on heritage assets.
  • The effect on agricultural land and food production.
  • The effect on biodiversity.
  • Renewable energy considerations.
  • Local and national planning policy and whether the benefits of the proposal would outweigh any harm.

What decided it

The substantial weight given to the national need for renewable energy generation and associated climate change benefits outweighed the identified landscape, heritage and agricultural harms.

The harm to landscape character, heritage assets and agricultural land was outweighed by the substantial benefits of renewable energy generation together with the moderate benefit of biodiversity net gain and some economic benefit.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
CS Policy LO8CS Policy SP1CS Policy SP2CS Policy SP11ADMP Policy G1ADMP Policy EN1ADMP Policy EN2ADMP Policy EN4ADMP Policy EN5ADMP Policy EN7ADMP Policy T1
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11Paragraph 110Paragraph 115Paragraph 155Paragraph 156Paragraph 157Paragraph 160Paragraph 168Paragraph 187Paragraph 198Paragraph 212Paragraph 215Paragraph 216
Judgments
Ross v SSHCLG [2025] EWHC 1183 (Admin)

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

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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.