Right proposal, wrong place
Planning and Environment, Cornerstone Climate
Last week, Estelle Dehon KC and Olivia Davies appeared for Telford & Wrekin Borough Council in a public inquiry concerning the Council’s refusal of planning permission for a large scale solar farm.
The Council, which has a long history of supporting renewable energy projects, refused permission on the basis of unacceptable landscape harm. The site is in a designated strategic landscape, which also forms part of the setting to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Inspector heard three days of evidence, including from many local councillors who made known how much the landscape means to the local community.
The Inquiry raises important questions about the balance to be struck between achieving Net Zero and protecting valued landscapes.