A planning inspector has upheld a decision to turn down plans for a solar farm which could generate enough power for almost a third of the borough’s homes.
Ashford Borough Council (ABC) threw out French energy firm EDF Renewables’ proposals for a site spanning the size of 190 football pitches, close to Sellindge and Aldington, last year.
Dubbed the East Stour Solar Farm, the project would have generated almost 50MW – enough power for the equivalent of 16,900 homes, or 29% of the overall 58,000 households in the borough according to latest figures.
EDF argued its array would hold a 49.9 Megawatts (MW) capacity, whereas any farm over 50MW requires government approval as a nationally significant infrastructure project.
But ABC planning chiefs ultimately rejected the 256-acre scheme in May 2024.
They argued it “would result in significant adverse individual and cumulative effects on landscape character”.
Officers also highlighted the negative impact the array would have had “on visual amenity that cannot be appropriately mitigated”.
The officials also argued EDF’s planning papers were scant in detailing the site’s archaeological impact, including extra stress caused by construction trucks.
They also noted there was “insufficient” information on mitigating the impact on badgers and a mineral deposit on the site.
However, EDF quickly appealed the decision, leading to a government planning inspector visiting the site in February.
Now, the scheme has once again been thrown out following a six-day inquiry.
Planning inspector Paul Griffiths said: “The imposition of a solar array on the various land parcels is bound to have a significant adverse effect on the receiving landscape.
“Moreover, the experience of walking along the PRoWs [Public Rights of Way] that pass through and near to the proposal would undergo a change that would be a negative one.
“That said, if solar arrays are to be brought forward in order to secure the benefits of renewable energy, then landscape and visual impacts of this sort are inevitable.
“The key point, though, is that these impacts must be controlled in an appropriate way.”
Had it been given the nod, the solar farm would have been removed and agricultural use would have been reinstated 40 years later.
Arguing its case, EDF emphasised ABC, which is run by an Ashford Independents/Green Party coalition, is committed to reaching net zero by 2030.
“Hosting the East Stour Solar Farm would lead to a significant carbon dioxide emission reduction, helping to meet the national need,” the firm said in its initial bid in April 2022.
However, ABC’s Linda Harman believes it was correct to uphold last year’s rejected decision.
The councillor for Saxon Ward said: “We are all delighted to see that the Planning Inspector dismissed the appeal submitted by EDF. It gives our community hope.
“Solar undoubtedly has a place in the UK’s move to renewable energy, but the investor rush should not be at the expense of our countryside and rural communities, not to mention the risk to UK food production.
“Aldington has been besieged by applications for ground-mounted solar due to its proximity to the Sellindge Converter Station.”
Elsewhere in the area, Evolution Power’s (EP) plans to build arrays spanning 250 football pitches, also in Aldington.
The project passed its first round of scrutiny in July last year leading to Evolution bosses formally putting forward its bid to the Planning Inspectorate (PI), the body responsible for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP), after it was accepted for examination.
‘The imposition of a solar array on the various land parcels is bound to have a significant adverse effect…’
If plans progress, its 400-acre Stonestreet Green solar farm’s photovoltaic panels will power 48,000 homes a year in generating 99.9 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy.
Cllr Harman hopes the best interests of Aldington are considered again when a decision on this application is made next month.
She added: “The inspector considering the recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on the much bigger Stone Street Green application will need to heed this appeal decision as a material consideration.
“His recommendation is due by August 19, so we will soon find out how material it is.
“The final decision on Stone Street Green will of course be made by the Secretary of State.
“We very much hope that the long views into and out of Aldington are not subjected to the industrialisation proposed.”
Meanwhile, a separate application was submitted earlier this month for full planning permission to build a 35MW farm between Kenardington and Woodchurch.
Green energy firm Quintas Cleantech would add the panels to a 148-acre site – the size of 68 football pitches – currently used as agricultural land.
A spokesperson for EDF said the firm is “disappointed” by the decision and would be “assessing the options”.
