George Eustice, MP for Camborne, Redruth & Hayle, has welcomed the decision by the Department for Communities and Local Government, to dismiss the appeal submitted against Cornwall Council’s rejection of a proposed solar farm in Edgcumbe, Penryn.
This application, for a 6.5 hectare development at Butteris Farm in Edgcumbe, was rejected by Cornwall Council in December 2014, due to its proximity to an already existing solar farm and the fear that the cumulative visual impact of both developments would harm the landscape’s natural quality.
This decision was subsequently appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, at which point George Eustice wrote to DCLG, asking that the application be recovered by the Secretary of State for final determination. The decision to dismiss the appeal was made on the 28th January 2016.
George Eustice said “This is a great result for Cornwall and the local community, which resoundingly chose to reject this proposed solar farm. I have always opposed field scale solar developments, which are a serious blight on the landscape, and often take good agricultural land out of production. Renewable energy developments need to be done with the support of the local community, not inflicted on them and I am pleased I was able to convince the Secretary of State to reject this application.”