We welcome the ‘right decision for Devon’s countryside’ and are celebrating a momentous decision by councillors in Torridge to go against the recommendation of their Planning Officer and refuse permission for a 73-acre solar farm with battery storage on agricultural land at Ebberley Down, near Roborough.
It’s one of very few applications across Devon that has been turned down in recent years and marks an astonishing turn-around for Torridge District Council, which has historically given the go-ahead to such applications, including the highly controversial Derril Water solar farm near Pyworthy a few years ago.
During a lengthy debate, councillors argued that good quality farmland in this location in the countryside is not the right place for a large solar photovoltaic installation when there is plenty of empty space on rooftops, brownfield land and on new-build houses. This stance is in line with the national charity CPRE’s campaign for rooftop renewables and our own long-running ‘Grass not Glass’ campaign.
In fact, Cllr Chris Leather, who seconded the proposal for refusal, referred to Devon CPRE’s solar farm map, which shows how many industrial-sized sites have already been approved and built within the district.
The parish council had strongly objected to the application and the majority of district councillors agreed that it was the right decision to refuse it on the basis that the harm to the landscape and environment outweighs the possible benefits in this location.
Councillors eventually voted by 7 to 2 against the application, ignoring their Planning Officer’s recommendation.
Devon CPRE Director Penny Mills commented, ““This is really good and unexpected news! The agricultural land in question is in an unspoilt setting in the heart of the Torridge countryside between Roborough and Bickington. It’s heartening to see a Devon council, particularly Torridge, finally say “No! Enough is enough.”
She added, “ It’s also great to see a Planning Committee taking notice of the solar farm map we produced for just this purpose. It’s simply not the right place for this development with 60% of the site covering Grade 3a Best and Most Versatile (BMV) land. A local resident said the small rural parish of Roborough already has two solar farms in the area and a third is too much. This is a resounding victory for the countryside and local democracy.”
Solar Farm Map
