Shropshire Star

Outcry sees Shropshire beauty area solar farm plans scaled back

Plans for a solar farm in Shropshire's area of outstanding natural beauty have been drastically scaled back following a public outcry.

Published

The development in Acton Scott, near Church Stretton, will now only cover 27 acres of land if plans are approved by Shropshire Council.

A previous application thrown out by councillors last month had proposed covering 54 acres of the Henley Bank site.

Those behind the plans, which have been resubmitted to Shirehall, say the proposed 5MW solar farm would generate enough energy for 650 homes.

But objectors have insisted undertaking such a project in the heart of Shropshire Hills AONB would not be acceptable – and have accused the applicants of coming up with a "re-hash" of their old proposals.

Thomas Darwall-Smith, of Maddox Associates, acting on behalf of Acton Scott landowner Rupert Acton, said: "The application has been significantly scaled back and now comprises the western field only."

The bid has been submitted along with evidence that other local authorities had passed solar farms within AONB areas.

But Peter van Duijvenvoorde, chairman of Save South Shropshire Countryside, said: "The applicant has basically resubmitted the same proposal, albeit covering half the area of land, that was refused before.

"The proposed site remains wholly within the AONB and uses agricultural land. Suggestions that the land would continue to support productive agriculture are unfounded. This is a highly speculative resubmission that has been made with minimal effort or attention to detail.

Cathryn McGahey, an objector to the plans, said: "This is no more than a re-hash of the application which was decisively rejected by councillors only weeks ago."

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