Shropshire solar farm approved behind closed doors

Planning officers at Shropshire Council have used delegated powers to grant planning permission to developers to build the solar units on 42 acres of farmland at Sheriffhales, near Shifnal.

It comes just months after the council's planning committee threw out plans to build a much bigger solar farm – over 116 acres – on the same farm.

Developer Lightsource Renewable Energy lodged an appeal with Government planning inspectors to overturn the decision.

That has now been withdrawn after the second application, which will see one field built on instead of three, was pushed through. The first application was refused on the grounds it would use land that could have been used for farming and agriculture.

Sherriffhales Parish Council vice-chairman Gordon Tonkinson said it was "absolutely appalling" the decision had been made behind closed doors by officers. But Shropshire Council planning chiefs defended the move, saying there was more support for the scheme than opposition.

Councillor Tonkinson said: "There is something radically wrong here. I think it is absolutely appalling. There are thousands of factory roofs all over the country which would be perfect to house solar panels – they should not be going on good farmland."

He said the parish council would be discussing the decision at a meeting tomorrow.

Ian Kilby, Shropshire Council's operations manager for planning services, said it was a "significantly smaller scheme" than had been previously refused.

He said the revised application addressed the reason for refusal. "This revised application was for a significantly smaller site – 17 hectares as opposed to 47 hectares – and relates to one field rather than the three previously proposed," Mr Kilby said.

"A report submitted in support of the application and based on a soil survey of the site confirmed that the field comprised two areas of 'very good' agricultural land amounting to four hectares in total, with the remaining 13 hectares made up of 'moderate' agricultural land.

"The application proposed that the panels would be installed on the latter only. As such the development will not affect the best and most versatile agricultural land.

"The application site would be retained in agricultural use as sheep would graze between the panels. In this respect it is considered that this revised application satisfactorily addressed the council's reason for refusal of the previous application.

"There was more support for the scheme than opposition and Kevin Turley, councillor for Shifnal North, supported the application. The decision to delegate the decision was taken in consultation with the committee chairman and vice chairman."