An MP has echoed residents’ “dismay” at the government’s decision to approve plans for a solar farm, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
Luke Akehurst, MP for North Durham, said he is “angry” that people living in Burnhope will be impacted after the large-scale development was overturned by the Planning Inspectorate despite Durham County Council’s previous refusal.
The Labour politician was responding to calls from the Reform-led authority, which urged the government to protect “valued landscapes” and change its planning policies to create a “fair and balanced” approach to solar farm applications.
Andrew Husband, council leader, warned that the County Durham countryside could be subjected to “unwarranted commercialisation” from solar developers.
But despite supporting the plea, Mr Akehurst admitted that amending the planning policy “will come too late to stop this development”.
Durham County Council initially turned down the application due to its size and impact on the landscape after hundreds of objections and a High Court appeal in July last year.
However, in a new ruling in April, the government’s Planning Inspectorate said the need to tackle climate change and achieve Net Zero targets outweighed the concerns.
Residents described the decision as “gut-wrenching” and “deeply disappointing” after several years of campaigning.
Up to 14 fields near the County Durham village will be overlaid with panels, including areas near the Chapman’s Well nature reserve.
The Planning Inspectorate conceded that the development would “harm” the local area, but the solar farm will only be working for up to 40 years.
Responding to Cllr Husband, Mr Akehurst said: “I share the council’s dismay about this decision. I am angry that residents of the village will lose valued local amenity space and rights of way, and that the beautiful landscape in the area will suffer.
“I think that your request that I ask the Secretary of State to review their very permissive wording of the National Planning Policy Framework is a reasonable one. Whilst amending the policy will come too late to stop this development, it might protect other similar landscapes in the County.”
Lightsource bp, the applicant, said the solar farm would have “a significant positive impact on the surrounding area, both environmentally and economically”.
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
