Councillor meeting in Kendal today to make a decision on a new solar farm that have previously deferred making a decision on twice before, have today gone against officer recommendations to approve the application for the installation of a proposed solar farm including associated ancillary works on land at Devonshire Square in Calthwaite.
It was placed before the council’s strategic planning committee because the application is considered to be of considerable wider public interest and the application includes a renewable energy development which covers an area greater than five hectares.
Despite having already deferred a decision on the application and hearing from those opposing the plans and the applicant councillors voted to again defer a decision last month until an independent assessment of the land classification was carried out with a report expected to be presented to todays strategic plan committee for councillors to again consider.
Despite the officer recommendation to approve and a number of examples of other solar farm applications that had. Eden refused by councils in other areas been overturned on appeal councillors voted on a motion proposed to refuse the application.
Following the refusal a representative of the applicants told the meeting the council will now face a claim for costs.
Despite today’s refusal by councillors, campaigners agains the solar farm are not yet celebrating as it’s expected an appeal will be made to the Secretary of State who could approve the plans and award costs against the council.
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