15MW solar farm at Harp Farm, Harp Farm Road, Boxley

What was proposed

The application proposed a 15MW solar farm with panels, equipment, fencing, CCTV, tracks, lighting, cabling and a temporary construction compound for 40 years.

“2.6m high solar panels. • 6 Inverter stations. • 3 storage containers (spares, comms and welfare). • Transformer, Substation, Private switchgear, and DNO switchgear. • 2.2m high wire boundary fencing. • 40no. 4.5m high CCTV poles. • Gravel internal access tracks and a hard surfaced site access. • Lighting • Temporary construction compound…”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The solar panels would occupy about 24.4 hectares within an 87-hectare site in open countryside inside the Kent Downs National Landscape.

“The site for the proposed solar panels is within an arable field to the west of Harp Farm Road and south of Bell Lane and is around 0.5km south of the M2 motorway. The land that would be covered with solar panels and ancillary development would be around 24.4ha.”

“In balancing the above matters it is considered the significant harm caused to the countryside and Kent Downs National Landscape and the lack of exceptional circumstances for major development in a National Landscape, which conflicts with the Development Plan and national policy, in addition to the failure to conserve or enhance the National Landscape as required under the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023, are not outweighed by the benefits of the development.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

Earlier applications included an environmental impact screening opinion for a 21MWp solar park and screening and scoping opinions for wind turbines.

“11/1009 A request for a screening opinion for an environmental impact assessment for a proposed wind turbine with a hub height of 40m and blade tip height of up to 63m - EIA Not Required (07/07/11)”

“09/2281 A request for a screening opinion for an environmental impact assessment for two proposed wind turbines with a hub height of 36m and blade tip height of 48m - EIA Required (05/01/10)”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended refusal because the development’s landscape harm, conflict with policy and lack of exceptional circumstances outweighed its renewable energy, economic and biodiversity benefits.

“The NPPF states that permission should be refused for major development in a National Landscape other than in exceptional circumstances, and where it can be demonstrated that the development is in the public interest. The need for, and level of, renewable energy generation from the development is considered to be in the public interest.”

Officer report

Landscape and recreation impacts

The solar farm would be prominent from public paths, including the North Downs Way, and would significantly harm the countryside, landscape and recreational experience.

“Overall, it is considered that the development would cause significant harm to the character of the local landscape as it would introduce solar arrays and ancillary development covering a significant area of around 24.4ha. This would extend across almost the entire width of the field in this location with a span from east to west of around 760m, and from north to south of around 320m.”

“Based on the above, the development would be highly visible from a number of public vantage points including those in close proximity from the North Downs Trail. This would be possible for a number of years, noting that the LVIA considers that it is not until the summer of year 15 that the landscaping will screen views of the development from here.”

Officer report

What local people said

Residents and parish councils raised concerns about missing information, agricultural land, traffic, noise, ecology, construction risks and harm to the landscape.

“Question whether larger HGV's will be physically capable of negotiating the northern section of Harp Farm Road without causing damage to the highway boundaries and the road structure. • The time taken for the escorted vehicles to traverse this section of road is likely to cause considerable delays to other through traffic and could cause anger and frustration for some motorists. • Additional workers car/van movements will add to problems particularly in the peak hours.”

“While we fully support the principles of renewable energy, this application conflicts with multiple local and national policies and raises serious practical concerns about its location, environmental impact, and implications for surrounding infrastructure. • Harm to the national landscape through industrial infrastructure contrary to policies and the Kent Downs Management Plan. • Lack of robust mitigation. • Lack of clear evidence of BNG. • Loss of habitats and hedgerows.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector and a representative of the applicant addressed the committee.

The committee vote

The committee refused permission by nine votes to three, with one abstention, and three councillors asked for their dissent to be recorded.

“RESOLVED: That permission be refused for the reasons set out in the report.”

“Note: Councillors Harwood, Jeffery and S Thompson requested that their dissent be recorded.”

Minutes

The decision

Permission was refused for the report’s reasons, after the committee amended one policy reference from Part 1 to Part 2 of LPRSP9.

“In introducing the application, the Principal Planning Officer advised that a proposed reason for refusal required amendment, changing the reference from Part 1 of Policy LPRSP9 to Part 2 of Policy LPRSP9.”

Minutes