Devon CPRE joins opposition to North Tawton solar farm - One day to object
Plans for a solar farm on high-quality agricultural land near North Tawton have attracted further opposition, with Devon CPRE joining local residents and North Tawton Town Council in objecting to the proposal, but the consultation ends tomorrow for members of the public to comment.
The application, submitted by SSE Energy in partnership with Arla Foods, would see a 5-megawatt solar farm built on around 30 acres of arable land south of Arla’s Taw Valley Creamery.
The development would include 9,464 photovoltaic panels, together with inverters, transformers, cables, CCTV, access tracks, perimeter fencing and landscaping.
It is the third application for a solar farm on the site, which has previously been the subject of two refused applications.
A major concern raised by Devon CPRE is the quality of the agricultural land. More than 90 per cent of the proposed site is classified as Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land, with 79.2 per cent Grade 2 and 11.4 per cent Grade 3a.
The applicant's own land, soil and management plans acknowledge that the proposal is “not in full compliance with local and national planning policy and guidance with regard to the use of BMV land”.
The application argues that the site is particularly suitable because of its proximity to the Arla factory and the availability and efficiency of a proposed grid connection.
An Alternative Site Assessment looked at locations within approximately three kilometres of the creamery. Devon CPRE points out that several of the alternative sites identified are made up of lower-quality agricultural land, including Grade 4 land, while another comprises a mixture of Grade 2 and Grade 4 land.
Devon CPRE Director Penny Mills said: “Food security is becoming a major issue and good farmland should not be used to produce a negligible amount of electricity and then mostly only when the sun shines in summer during the daytime.
“The applicant has acknowledged that their proposal does not comply with local and national planning guidance. Ease of access to a grid connection should not determine this application; the use of BMV land is avoidable. Other sites with lower-quality farmland could reasonably accommodate the development through appropriate design, mitigation or alternative connection arrangements.
“We stand alongside residents and North Tawton Town Council in opposing this application on land where two previous applications have been refused. No should mean no!”
The proposed development would provide electricity to the adjacent Arla plant, making its proximity to the creamery a key part of the applicant's case.
The application is now being considered by West Devon Borough Council, with a decision still pending.
The public consultation is due to close on 17 September. Residents and other interested parties can view the plans and submit comments through the West Devon Planning Portal - https://westdevon.planning-register.co.uk/ Please enter 2103/26/FUL as the reference.