‘Inappropriate’ solar farm is proposed in the Green Belt near Worksop

The applicant aims to build a solar farm in a 116-hectare site in the Green Belt, with more than 1,000 sq metres of buildings, such as solar arrays, inverter/transformer stations and battery storage containers, at Common Farm, Bookers Lane, Dinnington.

However, because the proposed park is in the Green Belt and the development exceeds an identified threshold – as it would be built on more than 1,000 sq metres of land – the Secretary of State would have to be informed and would make the final decision.

A Rotherham Council planning report states the solar panels – dark blue, grey or black in colour – would have a maximum height of 4.5m and be a minimum of 0.7m above ground level. Fencing up to 2m tall would be “erected around the perimeter of the solar panel area throughout the Solar Energy Park’s operational life”.

It is reported the farm has an operational life of up to 40 years before it would be “decommissioned” and would require an investment of £61.2 million over its life.

The report says: “The impact would be perceived over a large geographical area and the encroachment would result in a significant adverse effect that would have a harmful impact upon openness.

“While for a temporary period, the operational period of the development, at 40 years, still represents a significant period of time for the proposal to lead to loss of openness.

“The local planning authority therefore considers the proposed development would result in inappropriate development in the Green Belt and is, by definition, harmful to it.”

The application has received two letters of objection from residents as well as from Coun Clive Jepson, Anston Parish Council and Todwick Parish Council.

The objectors said the development would have a big impact on the natural environment and even on food production.

Coun Jepson said: “Anston will be the most impacted by the increased numbers of HGVs during the construction phase.

“The site has been wrongly described as being in Dinnington ward, when most of it is in Anston and Woodsetts ward, so local people have been denied the opportunity to comment.”

Anston and Woodsetts Parish Council said it would “set a precedent” for developing land within the Green Belt.

However, the report also states six letters of support have been submitted by members of the public, with one saying the scheme would “contribute to UK energy security strategy by reducing dependency on foreign oil and fossil fuels and producing safe, clean renewable energy”.

Another said: “One hundred per cent behind such a scheme, as we need as much green energy as we can get.”

Members of the council’s planning board are recommended to approve the scheme when they meet this week, after the report concluded “the public benefits are of sufficient magnitude to outweigh the substantial harm found to the Green Belt”.

The report said renewable energy generation counted as a “very special circumstance” to develop a Green Belt site and “there is no reason to believe the site cannot be fully restored following decommissioning”.