Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has changed his stance and approved planning permission for Lark Energy’s proposed 24 megawatt solar farm on Ellough Airfield in Suffolk originally refused by Waveney District Council and initially blocked by him.
The scheme, originally a 30MW array, was refused by Pickles against the advice of the inspector who held the recovered appeal hearing.
However, a subsequent High Court ruling quashed the Secretary of State’s decision and a second inquiry took place.
In the meantime, the solar developer obtained planning permission from the local planning authority for a 14MW solar farm on the northern part of the former airfield. That scheme is currently operating.
This time round the Secretary of State agreed with the inspector that the benefits of the scheme outweighed the limited adverse impact on the settings of nearby listed buildings and the local landscape.
His decision letter said: ‘The significant benefits of the proposal outweigh the limited harm to the character and appearance of the countryside.’
In a separate move, Pickles has dismissed an appeal over a 6.2MW solar farm proposed for a site at St Erth, near Hayle in Cornwall. The scheme had been refused by Cornwall Council. The inspector who held the recovered appeal also recommended refusal.
Pickles agreed with the inspector that the impact of the scheme on nearby homes would be so ‘visually oppressive and overbearing’ that the dwellings would become unattractive places to live in.
