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Solar farm for West Hill

  • by JW

“renewable energy and clean energy”

.

Back in 2013, the District Council rejected planning permission for a solar farm near Sidbury:

Futures Forum: “It has not been demonstrated that development in the highly protected AONB landscape is essential.”

But now, the District Council is determined to become ‘carbon neutral’:

Futures Forum: Climate change: District Council to “consider setting a more ambitious date for becoming carbon neutral”

And so, it has just granted planning permission for a large solar farm near West Hill

East Devon District Council’s planning committee on Tuesday granted planning permission for the scheme on land to the south of Rockbeare Hill in Marsh Green for the 15MW solar farm.

The site was chosen due to the availability of a connection to the grid within 2km of it, at Marsh Green substation, and permission would last for 40 years and at the end of its life, will be returned to agricultural use.

Councillor Philip Skinner called for the plans to be approved. He said: “If we are going to drive the climate change agenda, applications like this need to be given the right weight, and renewable energy and clean energy like this is something I can get behind and support.”

Giant solar farm plans for countryside near Sidmouth approved | sidmouth.nub.news

Giant solar farm plans for East Devon countryside approved – Devon Live

Here’s the full application on the council’s website:

5. 19.2832.MFUL.pdf

picture: Solar Farm | meesphotography.com | Michael Mees | Flickr