Solar appeal as council fails to reach decision

The solar park is planned for farmland near Haddon

An appeal has been launched to try to get permission to build a new solar farm after a decision was not issued by a council in time.

Wessex Solar Energy (WSE) wants to install 40,000 solar panels on farmland near Haddon, in Cambridgeshire.

Huntingdonshire District Council failed to make a decision within the allotted timeframe, and the project will now be referred to the government Planning Inspectorate.

However, the council has recommended officers oppose the development on grounds of the potential impact on nearby Sibson Aerodrome.

A report published ahead of a council meeting on 18 August states: "The application has failed to demonstrate that it would not materially harm the safe functioning of Sibson Aerodrome or private flying strips through adverse impacts of glint and glare, and the loss of land necessary to facilitate emergency landings."

WSE said the Haddon Road Solar Park would be able to export up to 25 megawatts, providing energy for up to 7,600 households a year.

The project follows similar plans for a larger solar farm of 65,000 solar panels, which was blocked by the district council last year after more than 100 objections were received.

A planning inspector later upheld this decision at an appeal, concluding that the development would cause "significant harm" to the area.

WSE has said its latest proposals for a smaller solar farm address the concerns raised about the previous project, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The company said it accepted the proposed solar farm would have some impact on the area, but measures were proposed to minimise this, including strengthening field boundaries and retaining hedges.