High Court ruling solar farm set for approval

The solar farm in Burnhope could cross up to 14 fields

Plans for a solar farm previously rejected by the High Court are set to be approved.

The proposal for the site near Burnhope, County Durham, will be considered by Durham County Council's planning committee on Wednesday after the previous decision to approve the scheme in March 2023 was ruled "unlawful".

Following a judicial review by Burnhope residents, permission was quashed by the planning court in February last year.

The applicant, Lightsource bp, then resubmitted its application for the 92-hectacre (227-acre) site and said it had improved landscaping to minimise visual impacts.

A council report states the High Court ruled the planning permission was unlawful because the council "failed to consider" whether it was approving more panels over a larger area than it needed to produce the "stated and lawful" amount of electricity.

Campaigners argue the proposal is the same size and still contains 110,640 panels.

Lightsource bp said the project would provide £500,000 in community benefits and millions in business rates.

The landowners said the site is unsuitable for growing crops or keeping livestock

Resident Victoria Dodd told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the "sheer scale of the proposed development is intimidating".

"Burnhope is a beautiful, tranquil, rural village in the countryside with scenic walks and wildlife," she said.

"All of this will be destroyed on an industrial scale by this thoughtless and crass proposal."

The facility could use up to 14 fields, but landowners say the site is unsuitable for growing crops or keeping livestock.

A spokesperson for Lightsource bp said the company had worked "proactively" with the council to address all comments.

"Solar farms like this one will also play a key part in helping lower electricity costs and bills for households and businesses," they claimed.