Land North of Main Road, Kelham, Nottinghamshire, NG23 5QY

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the character and appearance of the landscape having regard to the cumulative impact of the development in the context of other renewable energy development in the locality
• the setting of designated heritage assets
• the use of best and most versatile agricultural land (BMV)
• whether other considerations, including the need for the development, outweigh any identified harms

What decided it

the substantial and significant benefits of renewable energy generation and BESS provision, together with biodiversity, footpath and employment benefits, clearly and decisively outweighed the moderate landscape harm and the less than substantial heritage harm identified.

the substantial weight given to the need for and benefits of renewable energy and energy security, together with significant weight to BESS co-location and biodiversity/landscape benefits and lesser weight to footpath and employment benefits, clearly and decisively outweighed the moderate landscape/visual harm and the low-to-negligible less than substantial heritage harm, tipping the balance in favour of allowing the appeal notwithstanding conflict with parts of the development plan