Members of Folkestone & Hythe District Council’s Planning committee tonight endorsed a recommendation to refuse planning permission for an 18MW solar array on 27 hectares (about 67 football fields) of arable land at Pent Farm on the Pilgrims Way at Postling.
Planning Officers concluded that:
“The proposals would result in a detrimental change to the quality of the strategic landscape, failing to conserve and enhance the character of the North Downs National Landscape. This would result in significant harm to the visual character of the area and thus impact on the enjoyment of the area by receptors using the local public rights of way. The proposed mitigation is
insufficient to overcome these harms.”
We have always been clear that renewables should be evaluated on a case by case basis, in line with planning policies, as with any other development.
In this case, a majority of councillors agreed with officers that the proposal contravened local and national planning policies. While these policies can be set aside if there is a compelling argument to the contrary, in this case, a stronger argument was made in favour of protecting a nationally significant landscape.
In every planning matter put before them, our councillors consider the strengths and weaknesses independently – as this application proves.
Councillor Mike Blakemore, (Green, Cheriton) argued that the biodiversity improvements outlined within the application were enough to mitigate the visual impact of the scheme.
Councillor Anita Jones (Green, Hythe) described the proposal as a “huge dilemma” saying that the sticking point was the proposed solar farm being wholly within the Kent Downs National Landscape, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Polly Blakemore, (Green, Cheriton), told councillors that the application utilised grid capacity in the locality, capacity which is not necessarily available at other locations, making them less deliverable.
Councillor Rebecca Shoob (Green, Cheriton) described how this site, and others, will be required to support a transition to zero carbon energy. Rebecca described how “unless steps are taken to increase biodiversity, the quality of our landscapes will ultimately degrade”.
When it came to the vote, Mike, Polly, Rebecca and Belinda Walker (Lab, Broadmead) supported the application whereas the 7 other members of the committee, including Anita, voted to oppose the proposals.
