Harehill Farm, Haswell Plough, Durham, Durham, DH6 2BA

for the installation of a solar farm, BESS, associated infrastructure such as hardstanding area and internal access track

Authority: Durham County Council
Appeal type: major · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Hearing
Development: utilities-energy · Other Major Developments
Inspector: Marriott H

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The main issue is the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area with particular reference to landscape character and visual effects.

What decided it

The significant weight attributed to the scheme's contribution to renewable energy generation and net zero targets outweighed the moderate landscape and visual harm identified.

The moderate harm to landscape character and visual amenity and the resulting conflict with CDP Policies 10 and 39 and the development plan as a whole were outweighed by the significant weight given to the renewable energy/net zero benefits and moderate weight given to other environmental, social and economic benefits.

Framework references: 187, 213, 125, 168, 161, 58

Plan policies cited: Policy 10, Policy 33, Policy 39

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.

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.

Every English appeal since 2016, with the letter behind it wherever the Inspectorate published one. Searched by meaning as well as by words, with the key case law counted live across the letters.

Casework that chases the deadlines. Applications, appeals and conditions with their statutory dates.

The judgement stays yours. The tool gathers the material and dates it.