Land at Hillam Grange, Austfield Lane, Hillam, North Yorkshire , LS25 5NQ

‘Erection of a solar farm together with ancillary development thereto’

Authority: North Yorkshire Council
Appeal type: major · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: utilities-energy · Other Major Developments
Inspector: McDonagh C

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether or not the proposal would constitute inappropriate development in the green belt
The effect of the proposal on the best and most versatile agricultural land
The effect of the proposal on designated heritage assets

What decided it

The substantial public benefits of renewable energy generation and climate change mitigation, combined with the site's status as grey belt land and the temporary nature of the agricultural land use, outweigh the less than substantial heritage harm identified.

Framework references: 11, 110, 115, 143, 155, 160, 187, 212, 213, 215

Plan policies cited: SP2, SP3, SP18

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

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What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.
- Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
- Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
- Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
- Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.
Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.
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