®Planning appeal decision
Parcel 1643 Middle Piece Lane, Burnett, Keynsham, BS31 2ED
Planning appeal 6005916 at Parcel 1643 Middle Piece Lane, Burnett, Keynsham, BS31 2ED (Bath and North East Somerset) was allowed on 19 August 2026 by Inspector R E Jones, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and relevant development plan policies.
Installation, operation and decommissioning of renewable energy generating station comprising ground-mounted photovoltaic solar arrays together with transformer stations, site accesses, internal access tracks, security measures, access gates, other ancillary infrastructure and landscaping and biodiversity enhancements
- Authority
- Bath and North East Somerset
- Appeal type
- major · Planning
- Procedure
- Written
- Development
- utilities-energy
- Inspector
- R E Jones
- Postcode
- BS31 2ED
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and relevant development plan policies
- The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- The effect of the proposal on the setting of listed buildings located nearby
What decided it
The substantial renewable energy benefits, including generation of 22 GWh annually and displacement of 8,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year, combined with strong national and local policy support for renewable energy and the contribution to net zero objectives, outweighed the significant harm to landscape character and minor harm to heritage asset settings.
The significant harm to landscape character and appearance and minor harm to the setting of listed buildings were outweighed by the substantial benefits of renewable energy generation, energy security, biodiversity net gain, and local economic benefits, with the renewable energy benefits attracting substantial weight in the context of national net zero commitments.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CP8 of the BANES Core StrategyPolicy GB1 of the BANES Placemaking PlanPolicy NE2 of the Placemaking PlanPolicy NE2a of the Placemaking PlanPolicy CP3 of the Local Plan – Partial UpdatePolicy HE1 of the Placemaking PlanPolicy RE5 of the Placemaking Plan
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.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in Bath and North East Somerset
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
- Notice upheld13 July 20263363347Lorne Road Car Park, Westmoreland, Bath, BA2 3BZ
- Dismissed9 July 20266008028Blossom Manor, Palmers Lane Tunley, Bath, BA2 0DZ
- Dismissed30 June 20266006198561 Bath Road, Saltford, BS31 3JS
- Dismissed19 June 2026600482422-24, Elm Terrace, Westfield, BA3 3XS
- Allowed13 May 202660013842 Culverhay, Compton Dando, Bristol, BS39 4LQ
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.