Plans for a solar farm outside Salisbury have been refused by Wiltshire Council, in a decision that went against the case officer’s recommendation.

The solar farm was proposed across two fields to the south of Salisbury Road (A345) to the east of Coombe Bissett and the application suggested it would generate approximately 30 megawatts of power, enough to supply almost 10,000 homes per year.

The applicant, Low Carbon Solar Park 24 Limited, had named the proposed project Beech Tree Solar Farm and had indicated that the height of the solar panel array was to be three metres tall.

View of site from the A354 public highway.View of site from the A354 public highway. (Image: Wiltshire Council)

In a strategic planning committee meeting on Wednesday, August 14, members in Trowbridge County Hall decided to vote against the plans.

Matt Lomax, planning manager at Low Carbon, was in attendance and spoke in support of the application.

He said: “As well as a large amount of green electricity, the project would also bring benefits through a biodiversity net gain of 50 per cent which would be achieved through the planting of almost one kilometre of new hedgerow and planting of species-rich wildflowers around the site.

“Other benefits include farm diversification and allowing for sheep grazing during this operation.

“Importantly, your officers have concluded that the project provides a positive planning balance, where the benefits of the project outweigh the impacts.”

The divisional member, Cllr Richard Clewer, also leader of the council, was not able to attend the meeting but a statement was read out on his behalf.

He noted: “As I see it, there are two key issues. The first is the lack of grid connection, which is not included with this application.

“It seems crazy to me to build a solar farm without a way to get the energy it generates into the grid.”

Cllr Clewer described the potential for tunnelling under the River Ebble as “extremely environmentally challenging given the sensitivity of the river.”

He added: “Secondly, the application includes about 50 per cent best and most versatile agricultural land, this is intermixed with the rest of the land proposed to be used.

“Current planning policy is really clear – you should not put solar on best and most versatile land.”

The committee agreed to vote to refuse the application, based on a lack of information regarding the solar park’s connection to the grid and the battery storage facilities.