PLANNERS have refused a scheme for a solar farm in the south Shropshire countryside that it is claimed would generate enough power for more than 600 homes.
The proposal for the solar farm relates to land in Acton Scott, near Church Stretton.
It is on farm land north of Henley Common and off Henley Lane.
The applicant Rupert Acton had submitted a revised scheme that is smaller than one that was previously prepared.
It has been reduced by half compared with the original proposal and it is claimed that the solar farm would generate enough power for 650 homes instead of the 1,300 that would have applied to the earlier application.
The application attracted a number of objections including one from the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that said that the solar farm would ‘introduce an industrial scale installation into a high quality rural landscape, changing its character fundamentally and causing unacceptable harm to the special qualities of the AONB.’
However, the scheme has the support of the charity Stretton Climate Care which says it would contribute low carbon energy and that the AONB is threatened by climate change.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here