The New Forest National Park Authority’s planning committee has unanimously rejected developer Enviromena’s plans for a major solar energy development on a greenfield site in the New Forest National Park.
Enviromena manages, operates and maintains more than 300 MW of renewable energy resources and has a 2 GW pipeline across Britain and Europe.
The proposal for a 9.85 hectare solar farm with two substations would be contrary to national policy, primary legislation and the adopted Local Plan of the New Forest National Park. The National Park Authority deemed the solar farm, which would be located at Thornlands Farm in Netley Marsh, constituted a ‘major development’.
National parks enjoy the highest level of protection with regard to landscape and scenic beauty and are designated by the government to preserve and enhance the area.
The National Planning Policy and associated guidelines make it clear that environmental protection is not overridden by the need to develop renewable energy sources; Government planning policy states that the scale and extent of development within national parks should be limited.
Generally, planning permission is refused for major developments in national parks, except in exceptional circumstances and where the development can be shown to be in public interest.
The National Park Authority’s planning officer’s report stated that while the provision of renewable energy was a benefit of the scheme, the applicants had not demonstrated that the site needed to be specifically within the New Forest National Park and that it was not linked to supplying energy to a local community. company or community.
The National Park’s planning policy supports small-scale projects to supply renewable energy to local households, businesses and community facilities. Renewable energy projects within the New Forest National Park that are consistent with that emphasis on small-scale developments are supported by the park authority.
This year it granted planning permission for projects including solar panels on carports at Paultons Park in Ower and a 48-panel solar farm in Bartley.
Chairman of the New Forest NPA Planning Committee Gordon Bailey said: “The committee decided to refuse this application because its size was not considered appropriate within the protected landscape environment of the National Park and the applicant had not sufficiently demonstrated the need to to be located here rather than at an alternative location outside the National Park.”
Green light in Dorset
However, Enviromena has secured planning permission for what it says will be the largest self-developed solar project in Christchurch, Dorset. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) planners approved the 66 hectare Parley Court Solar Farm site, marking a major milestone for the clean energy company.
The 42.43 MWp project has been in the planning process since November 2021.
Mark Harding, European development director at Enviromena, said: “We are delighted to secure planning permission for our largest UK solar development to date. With further projects totaling around 200 MW submitted to the planning process in recent months and a further 300 MW expected to enter planning by the end of the summer, we hope this is the first of many planning permissions that have been acquired during our self-development. pipeline in 2024.”
He added: “BCP Council has been really forward thinking and it was fantastic to see a local authority being so proactive when it comes to climate change driven initiatives. The fact is that the location will help achieve both local and national sustainable energy goals.”
