Solar farm plans to be considered by council

Three solar farm applications are to be reviewed by the district council at next week’s planning committee meeting.
Steyning solar farm proposal mock up - provided by Inazin SUS-140804-171155001Steyning solar farm proposal mock up - provided by Inazin SUS-140804-171155001
Steyning solar farm proposal mock up - provided by Inazin SUS-140804-171155001

The solar farm plans, submitted by three separate applicants, have been inspected by the planning officers before going to Horsham District Council’s (HDC) planning committee with two recommended for approval (one of which is subject to conditions) and one for refusal.

The solar farm plan for Huddlestone Farm in Steyning, by applicant Inazin, is on a site overlooked by the Steyning Walk, a town attraction.

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The application was recommended for refusal by the planning officer because ‘its sitting, extent and the character of the use would result in significant adverse visual amenity impacts’, as stated in the agenda.

In Ashurst, a separate plan for a solar farm, by applicant Lumicity, is proposed to be located on Ford Farm.

The planning officer has recommended the application for approval, but it is subject to 16 conditions, including that it must be built before the three year expiration date is up.

Ashurt resident Mark Knight said it would be a ‘blight on the environment’ and that the planning officer should have taken into consideration MP Gregory Barker’s suggestion to keep solar farms to brownfield sites only.

The third application proposed at Priors Byne Farm in Partridge Green was recommended for approval.

HDC will consider the applications on Tuesday April 15.