Solar farm plans to be be decided in the new year

In May, Chichester District Council refused the application to place rows of panels on two parcels of land next to Lime Kiln Barn, in Runcton Lane. Applicant BNRG Langmead Ltd appealed and a hearing is being held at North Mundham Village Hall.

While the council’s planning officers had recommended the plans be approved, most of the committee voted to refuse. Their grounds for doing so included the loss of around 36 hectares of best quality agricultural land – even if only for a period of 40 years – and the impact on the landscape and rural character of the area.

The land and the impact on food security were the main topics of conversation on the first day of the hearing on December 10.

In its statement of case to the planning inspector, the council said that 36.1 hectares of the 49 hectares (74 per cent) was Best and Most Versatile  (BMV) agricultural land, with up to 25 per cent being grade 1 ‘excellent
quality’ and up to 49 per cent being grade 2 ‘very good’ agricultural land.

The council stated that there was ‘little evidence’ that BNRG Langmead had tried to find poorer quality land on which to set up the solar farm.

And it was pointed out that, with the panels in place, the land could not be used for growing, meaning there would be ‘an annual loss of approximately 275tonnes of wheat and 375tonnes of lettuce’ from the site.

But BNRG argued that the loss would be ‘imperceptible’ compared to the amount of cereals grown across the UK, adding that ‘the benefits of the renewable energy project significantly outweigh these temporary harms’.

The council received more than 300 objections to the plans, along with a 684-name petition from the South Mundham and Runcton Trustees – Fields For Food (SMART-FFF).

Many of the concerns raised, – such as the impact on the Wildlife Corridor which cuts through part of the site, the impact on the character of the area, and whether another solar site was needed – were echoed by the committee.

To view the application, log on to publicaccess.chichester.gov.uk and search for 24/01859/FUL.