Inspector Gethin has allowed an appeal for a 29MW solar farm comprising major development in the North Wessex Downs National Landscape.

On landscape and visual amenity, the Inspector found that the development would cause localised harm to landscape character and visual amenity, assessed as at most moderate adverse after mitigation planting establishes. The effect on the National Landscape itself would be minor adverse, given the site’s scale relative to the wider National Landscape and the limited visibility of the development. Whilst the proposal conflicted with the relevant Local Plan policy on landscape due to the harm, the Inspector noted the site’s position on the edge of the designated area and agreed with the Appellant that it had a lesser sensitivity compared to the more scenic parts of the North Wessex Downs, and the significant screening provided by existing and proposed hedgerow planting.

The Inspector agreed with the Appellant that the paragraph 190 Framework test was met. There was an urgent national need for renewable energy, no viable scope for development outside the National Landscape due to grid capacity constraints and the location of the point of connection, and the detrimental effects on the landscape could be moderated. The Inspector concluded exceptional circumstances clearly existed and the development was in the public interest.

There was in addition to the landscape impacts, some heritage harm. There was a SAM – the Devil’s Ditch very close by to the appeal site. The Inspector agreed with the Appellant that the harm was less than substantial harm, through effects on its setting, at the lower end of the scale. This harm was outweighed by the substantial public benefits—including generation of up to 29MW of renewable energy, over 6,400 tonnes of annual carbon savings, significant biodiversity net gain, and economic benefits of approximately £15.6 million investment.

In the planning balance, the Inspector concluded that material considerations, principally the scheme's substantial environmental, social, and economic benefits and the deliverability of the grid connection, outweighed the landscape harm and resultant conflict with the development plan, and the appeal was allowed.

The appeal decision can be read here.

Mark Westmoreland Smith KC acted for the Appellant, BSR Energy Limited, instructed by Osborne Clarke.