6th February 2024
Innova, working in partnership with the landowners of Parkgate Farm, has won planning consent for Parkgate Farm Solar Park, granted on 15th December 2023, following an appeal Hearing on 12th December 2023.
Braintree District Council were unable to progress and determine the planning application within the extend timeframes and as such after 18 months Innova had to submit an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate against the non determination of the application. The Council subsequently indicated that it would have refused the 22.5MW site due to concerns around heritage and landscape impact.
The appointed Inspector agreed with Innova’s submission, which outlined that the landscape and visual impact are contained to the site and its immediate local landscape, and that the limited impact on the setting of the listed building was outweighed by the public benefits of generating renewable energy
Once built and energised, the 22.5MW solar farm will deliver equivalent electricity for 5,768 homes and save approximately 5,333 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. The local community will also benefit from an annual community benefit payment of circa £5,000 per annum as part of Innova’s Community Promise.
Chris Field, Programme Manager at Innova Renewables Developments, said:
“As the first of our solar pipeline to go into the appeals process, Parkgate Solar Farm truly demonstrates our thorough and robust development process here at Innova. Supported by expert witnesses in planning, landscape, and heritage, the success of this appeal is a testament to Innova’s rigorous approach in the site selection and design stages of its renewable development process. We are very much looking forward to seeing the positive impact this latest addition to our portfolio has on the local community and the environment once it is built and energised.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the help and support from our landowner partners in this development, as well as my colleagues at Innova for their hard work and dedication. Our collective thanks also to the appointed inspector of the appeal and the witnesses who supported us.”
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