Land at Cruxton Farm, Cruxton Lane, Cruxton, DT2 0EB

Construction of a solar farm, to include the installation of solar photovoltaic panels to generate 10MW of electricity, with Distribution Network Operator (DNO) and client substations, inverters, perimeter stock fencing, access tracks, landscaping and other associated works

Authority: Dorset
Appeal type: Planning
Procedure: Hearing
Development: utilities-energy
Postcode: DT2 0EB

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The effect of the proposed development on the landscape character and visual amenity of the area, including the Dorset NL
whether there are exceptional circumstances and whether the proposal would be in the public interest

What decided it

The proposal failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances under NPPF paragraph 190 because the mitigation offered did not adequately moderate the harm to recreational opportunities and visual amenity within the National Landscape.

the substantial weight attributed to the renewable energy, economic and ecological benefits did not outweigh the conflict with the development plan and the unmoderated harm to the National Landscape's character, visual amenity and recreational opportunities

Framework references: 189, 190, 168, 58

Plan policies cited: Policy COM11, Policy ENV1, Policy ENV2, Policy COM7v)

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.