THE decision to grant permission for a ‘huge’ and controversial solar farm which would be built on arable land has been postponed.

Low Carbon UK Solar Investment Company is proposing the construction and operation of a solar photovoltaic farm, as well as the introduction of battery storage and associated infrastructure, at land south east of Perham Down. 

It would mean that, on the road between East Cholderton and Tidworth, approximately 75.53 hectares of grade three, “good quality”, fields would be covered in solar panels.

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However, for its 40-year life, the farm would produce enough power for around 16,500 homes after which the landowners would be responsible for its removal.

The application was heard at a meeting of the Test Valley Borough Council Northern Area Planning Committee on Thursday, June 23. 

Representing the applicant, James Hartley-Bond said the firm is “grateful” for the positivity shown towards the project and said that mitigation proposed in response to any concerns has been “mostly well received”. 

He said the reason for the dispersed sites across multiple fields was due to having to deal with multiple landowners and to avoid installing solar technology directly outside properties. 

However, not all councillors were convinced by the plans. 

Cllr Phil Lashbrooke said: “This covers a huge amount of very fertile, productive land. The war in Ukraine has highlighted our reliance on foreign food imports to the amount of 60 per cent. The need for food sources here has never been greater. Why are we not installing solar panels on [our developments]? Why is it not a requirement for all new houses to have solar panels on the roof?”

Cllr Lashbrooke further highlighted the impact on surrounding habitat, adding: “I will have no part in this idiocy. The project is far too large and will have a devastating impact on the local landscape and wildlife.”

Cllr David Coole said: “This area is steeped in heritage and history. The loss of agricultural land is substantial.”

Cllr Tony Burley also raised concerns. He asked whether the energy would be used directly to power homes in Test Valley, to which council officers responded that energy produced feeds into the national grid.

He continued: “I am all for renewable energy but we already generate more than enough for the borough.”

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Cllr Richard Rowles, however, was more positive about the applicant’s efforts. He said: “I think they have done a very good job of selecting parts of fields to make sure that the surrounding villages do not have a visual impact from this. In terms of the material considerations that I think we should be thinking about, it definitely hits the mark. “

This was echoed by Cllr Jim Neal, who added: “This, to me, is a good solid application. I think it collates everything we are trying to do.”

Summing up the split mood, Cllr Carl Borg-Neal described the application as one of “the heart versus the mind”, adding that no one denies the large scale, but urging people to consider supporting it and looking further than just the energy needed by the borough, to the overall climate emergency.

Eventually, Cllr Lashbrooke opposed a motion that the decision be postponed until after a visit to the site. To view the application go to view-applications.testvalley.gov.uk, reference 21/01749/FULLN.

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