A 15MW solar farm lay to the south-west of the appeal site and permissions existed for two more in the local area. Constructing solar panels on 22ha of agricultural land would increase the predominance of such development within a rural landscape with some solar arrays. It would be sited centrally between the three other sites and those driving or walking in the area would be likely to experience views of two or more of the developments. These ‘sequential cumulative’ effects would in his view be significant and added to his concern regarding the impact on heritage assets including the effect on a former second world war bombing decoy station. Despite the benefits of producing energy from a renewable source the scheme was judged to be unacceptable.
Inspector: John Woolcock; Written representations
Intensification of solar farm development harmful to landscape character
Despite the presence of three existing solar farms in part of Essex an inspector refused to permit a fourth ruling that it would lead to a harmful intensification of such development.
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