Solar farm approved despite 'dumping ground' fears

A renewable energy site which led a councillor to label a county as "a dumping ground for solar farms" has been given the green light.

Back in July, Wiltshire Council's strategic planning committee turned down plans for a 218-acre (88 hectare) solar farm near Devizes on the grounds it would blight the landscape, with councillor Chris Brautigam adding the county had "done its bit".

The rejection of The Potterne Park Farm was then appealed by Potterne Solar Project Limited, the company behind the project.

Planning inspector Cullum Parker gave it the go ahead and said although there would be "some harm to the character and appearance" of the area, it would be "very limited and very localised".

Parker acknowledged the area - which sits between the villages of Potterne, Urchfont, and Easterton - was "relatively unspoilt," but noted the nearby railway line "reduces the sense of tranquillity".

Local objectors had raised concerns about traffic on narrow roads during the construction of the proposed solar farm, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

But Parker said a traffic management plan had been drawn up which would provide an "off-site holding area, marshals, temporary traffic lights, convoy system, and temporary passing places".

"In light of such measures, I am content that the proposal would not result in unacceptable or severe highway impacts," he added.

Speaking at the original council meeting in July, councillor Chris Brautigam said Wiltshire had exceeded its 2030 solar target by 39%.

But Parker noted that, while Wiltshire "leads UK counties" in achieving net zero, there was "no cap" to a county's renewable energy capacity.

"This does not constitute a reason for dismissing the appeal scheme," he added.

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