Solar panels look to be approved despite 'blight' concerns

Concerns have been raised regarding the visual impact of the solar panels

Plans for solar panels in the Cotswolds look set to be approved despite concerns they will “blight” the rural landscape.

Michael Lee wants Cotswold District Council's permission to install 32 solar panels at The Green Cottage at The Crescent in Maugersbury.

The proposal has been referred to the planning and licensing committee at the request of Councillor Dilys Neill, who supports the proposals as "every little helps" regarding the council-declared climate emergency.

Planning officers recommended approving the scheme, as it complies with planning policies, with councillors due to debate the proposals on 7 August.

'Important rural view'

Ms Neill wants the application to be considered by councillors "because there will be some impact on the Cotswold National Landscape", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said..

Meanwhile, Maugersbury Parish Council objected to the scheme because it will be visible from the nearby and wider Cotswold National Landscape.

“Not only will this be a blight on an important rural view of Maugersbury village, it will also impact on the setting of the listed Half Moon House that is directly behind the site," the parish council said in its objection.

Planning officers said the harm to nearby listed buildings and the Cotswold landscape can be mitigated by extra planting on site.

They added the solar panel installation is "reversible".

"A planning condition has been recommended to ensure the solar panels are removed from the site when they are no longer required or operational,” they said.

“Whilst small in scale, the proposal will help to meet overriding carbon neutral targets and this is a public benefit which must be given considerable weight in the overall planning balance.”

They said the proposal complies with planning policies subject to conditions.