Public consultation leads to planning bid for Cotes Heath solar farm

A planning application has come forward to build a solar farm on farmland next to a rural Stafford Borough village.

Proposals for the development to the south east of Cotes Heath, on a 24 hectare (59.3 acre) site next to the A519 Newcastle Road went on public display in January.

An application for the construction and operation of a ground-mounted solar farm and associated infrastructure, access, ancillary works and landscaping has now been submitted to Stafford Borough Council by Cotes Heath Solar Limited, part of Ampyr Solar Europe. If the plans are given the green light, the site is expected to generate up to 15 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy to be exported to the local grid, which could meet the needs of approximately 7,400 homes per year, and the development could be in place for up to 50 years.

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The plans met with a mixed response from nearby residents at the January consultation. And the application has already met with objections. One objector said,

“There are plenty of other brownfield sites across the county where this development would be better suited.” Another raised concerns about the loss of high-quality agricultural land and proximity to an A road “where visibility is not good at the best of times and any reflections from the panels will be dangerous.”

They added, “The size of the proposed development is multiple times larger than the villages it is next to. The value of the components/materials in the proposed development is such that it will become a magnet for metal thieves; this will increase crime from non-existent in the village and will probably mean that our houses will be burgled.”

Councillor Jeremy Pert has called the application in for consideration by the planning committee. The call-in was made for the committee

“to discuss the planning balance from the visual impact to the surrounding area, use of prime agricultural land (BMV) for non-agricultural purposes and whether there is already sufficient permissioned environmentally friendly energy production in the wider region or better alternative sites.”

A planning, design and access statement submitted as part of the application said:

“Although the proposed development is located on BMV agricultural land and is, therefore, not compliant with policy, the material considerations, including the need for renewable energy developments, demonstrate that these outweigh the non-compliance with policy. Within 10km of the connection point, Natural England’s provisional Agricultural Land Classification Map shows that the majority of land outside urban areas is classified as Grade 2 or 3 (BMV land).

“The proposed development will provide notable gains in biodiversity – well above the 10% legal requirement for all types of units – by supplementing the existing vegetation and hedgerows surrounding the application site with a range of native species and the provision of new shelterbelt and woodland planting that delivers additional green linkages. In addition, the temporary use of the land as a solar farm will provide opportunities for improved grassland species in-between the solar panels which will contribute to enhancing biodiversity and deliver new habitats.

“There is a recognised need and support for renewable energy technology within Development Plan policy, national planning policy and national and local policy guidance. This development would contribute towards the targets set for the UK’s greenhouse gas emission reduction and increasing the country’s energy supply from renewable sources and more specifically, assist Stafford Borough Council in its own fight against climate change.”