Shropshire Star

Developers to reduce size of Ludlow solar farm

The size of a controversial Ludlow solar farm that was given permission despite being refused by Shropshire Council will be reduced.

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Green energy developers behind the planned plan at the Henley Hall estate off Squirrel Lane, Ludlow, have submitted amended plans to make the solar farm three hectares (7.5 acres) smaller, despite having permission to built it over a larger area.

The controversial 13.5 hectare (33.3 acre), 5MW solar farm was approved after a planning inspector's appeal hearing in April.

It had previously been refused by Shropshire Council's south planning committee in August 2015 after a raft of objections from neighbours and countryside conservation campaigners Save South Shropshire Countryside.

Now Kronos Solar, the firm behind the solar farm, has put forward a fresh plan that is reduced in size but not energy output, which has already been accepted by council planning officers.

A report by principal planning officer Grahame French, says: "The new plan has reduced layout for the solar arrays, a smaller substation building, a change to the specifications for security fencing and use of smaller string inverter units mounted on the back of the solar panels instead of four container-sized inverter buildings.

"The area of the solar arrays would be reduced by 3.05 hectares and pulled back by 440m from the edge of Henley Hall deer park. The changes would generally result in a reduction in the footprint of the solar arrays and ancillary buildings relative to the approved scheme.

"The energy production potential of the site would remain similar to the level identified for the scheme approved on appeal."

He said the new plans could be approved without a fresh consultation as the changes "would not be material either individually or cumulatively".

Shropshire Council's refusal of the scheme was overturned by planning inspector Philip Major who said there was little evidence in his view that the panels would affect tourism, despite residents' fears, despite Councillors Andy Boddington, Richard Huffer, Tracey Huffer and Vivienne Parry, who all represent the Ludlow area on Shropshire Council, insisting the countryside affected was part of the view from beauty spots and tourist sites all around, including the tower of St Laurence's Church.

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