North Dorset solar farm given extended operating licence
The Pulham facility hasn't even been built yet
An extra five years has been granted to a yet to be built solar farm at Pulham.
The Save Hardy’s Vale group had objected to the proposal for an extra five years, from 35 to 40 years.
Ian Bryan from the group told councillors on Friday (14th March) there would be additional harm from the extra years with ‘damage’ to the landscape and extra flooding potential.
He claimed that run-off from the panels could increase the risk of flooding, rather than reduce it, as had previously been claimed.
He asked for any decision to refused, or if not, deferred, until further information could be provided about the flooding risk from the development.
The concerns were backed by one of the parish councils who repeated the claim made in other objections that the development could have an effect on water flows downstream from the site and that the effect of having the piles in the ground, which supported the panels above the ground, over a long period of time, was also unknown.
The meeting heard that Dorset Council planning officers were still waiting for some of the technical details about the scheme before the development could begin, with other statutory bodies, including the water company also likely to comment on the proposals.
Planning consent for the North Dairy Farm site was given planning permission by Dorset Council last year, subject to conditions.
Dorset Council officers told the committee that despite the objections the extra time would deliver “very substantial public benefits” by producing enough renewable energy to power some 11,745 homes, making a contribution towards the Council’s Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy.
The 77 hectare site is west of Hazelbury Bryan, east of Pulham and north of Mappowder. A report submitted as part of the original application indicates the land is classified as a mix of subgrade 3b (moderate) and grade 4 (poor) agricultural land.
Mappowder Parish meeting’s formal objection to the extra time said that no useful purposes would be gained from an extension owing to the life-span of the solar panels and it would be better to return the farmland to food production sooner, rather than later.
Only one public objection had been lodged – claiming that the extra five years would cause ‘significant harm’ and a risk of flooding.
Green Party councillor Belinda Bawden from Lyme Regis proposed agreeing the extra time, seconded by Alderholt Lib Dem David Tooke, with the committee unanimously voting in favour.
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