Concerns raised about Healey's Cyder Farm solar plans

The cider farm aims to become fully self‐sufficient for electricity by 2030

Historic England and a parish council have raised concerns about solar farm plans at a Cornish cider farm due to the visual impact and the effect on a nearby ancient monument.

Natural Generation has applied to build a 900kW solar farm on agricultural land at Healey's Cyder Farm at Callestick.

Bosses hope the solar farm will help the company meet its own sustainability aims and objectives.

Planners have recommended conditional approval.

'Detrimental impact'

The solar farm - 15 rows of 2,226 panels in total - would allow Healey's to reduce its carbon footprint by 65%, a reduction of 175 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Perranzabuloe Parish Council has objected, stating the "cumulative effect of being too close to a large existing solar farm would have a detrimental impact on the landscape".

Historic England, while not against the principle of a solar farm at the site, said in a report to the council: "Development at the application site would negatively impact upon the ability to appreciate the monument within its surroundings".

The protected feature is a bowl barrow, a funeral monument which was built between the Late Neolithic period and the Late Bronze Age.

The proposal has been called to Monday's Cornwall Council central planning committee by local councillor Steve Arthur due to concerns regarding loss of agricultural land and visual impact.

However, a number of bodies, including Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, have supported the plans.

Grant deadline looms

Healey's has a wind turbine and 25kw solar farm to help offset carbon.

The proposed solar farm would run for 40 years, after which the site would be decommissioned and restored to agricultural use.

Healey's has applied for a grant towards the financing of the solar farm as part of the government's shared prosperity fund through Cornwall Council.

The £588,000 grant and the agreement specifies that planning approval has to be secured by the end of this month and all financial expenditure is made by 31 March 2025.

The application says the loss of this grant would hugely impact the business's ability to meet its own sustainability aims and objectives.

The cider farm aims to become fully self‐sufficient for electricity by 2030.

A decision will be made at the planning meeting on Monday.