Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee has voted to block a major solar farm proposal, despite the council’s declaration of a climate emergency. The planned 28.2-hectare solar farm near the village of Burnett would have generated enough electricity to power 5,763 homes, boosting local renewable energy production by 40%.
Residents of the small 22-home village expressed strong opposition, fearing the landscape would be marred by what they described as an “industrial scale eyesore.” Rosemary Turner, a local resident, voiced concerns over flooding and the loss of the village’s natural beauty, while Philippa Paget of Compton Dando Parish Council highlighted the cumulative visual impact of multiple solar farms industrializing the green belt.
While John Leach, a planning committee member, argued that future generations might view the solar farm as a symbol of addressing climate challenges rather than an eyesore, others remained unconvinced. Councillor Duncan Hounsell emphasized that “solar is not a trump card” and stressed that renewable energy targets should not override environmental and landscape considerations. He pointed out that the area’s scenic value, observed firsthand during a site visit, justified refusal.
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The committee ultimately refused planning permission due to the development being inappropriate for the green belt, causing significant landscape harm and adverse visual impacts. Paul Crossley, another committee member, noted the proposal was “far too large” and detrimental to the rural character of the area.
The proposed solar farm would have covered 18 hectares with solar panels, with the remainder of the site allocated for infrastructure and biodiversity enhancements. The plan included increasing biodiversity on the site by 54%, exceeding the minimum requirements. The agent for the applicant highlighted that the land is classified as grade four, considered poor-quality agricultural land.
This decision stands in contrast to a recent approval by the council for a solar farm on grade 3a agricultural land near Paulton, despite similar concerns about the loss of quality farmland.
Bath and North East Somerset Council has ambitious renewable energy goals, targeting 110 MW of renewable generation by 2029. So far, 47 MW has been installed since 2010, with an additional 86 MW approved for construction. The rejected solar farm alone would have contributed 22.6 MW.
The council also aims to generate 12 MW of power directly for its own use and has taken steps such as installing rooftop solar and heat pumps in council care homes. The city’s natural hot springs currently heat several historic sites, and a small hydroelectric project is under consideration for the center of Bath.