63-hectare solar farm at Land At Titchfield Lane, Wickham

The site and surroundings

The parcels are in open countryside around existing solar, equestrian, farming and residential uses, with woodlands, conservation sites, rights of way and nearby heritage assets.

“To the North, are Parcels 1-5. These are located within Shedfield Parish and are situated around the existing Solar Farm at Raglington Farm and Shedfield Equestrian. Parcel 1 is currently laid to grass and rises to a high point approximately halfway down the field. Raglington Farm is located directly to the south.”

“Parcel 4 is located within Shedfield Equestrian Centre. This site was formally Upper Dagwells Copse, as such, a large area is covered by a TPO even though the trees were removed some time ago. Part of the field is currently subject to enforcement action for some unauthorised uses to the south and western parts of the field. However, the majority of this field is used for grazing horses. There is an existing track that runs through the middle of the field.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended permission because substantial renewable energy and biodiversity benefits outweighed landscape, National Park and heritage harm, despite conflict with some policies.

“The assessment of heritage assets, paragraph 208 of the NPPF, indicates that the ranking of less than substantial harm should be weighed against public benefits, which are considered to include the securing of renewable energy and the biodiversity gains. The goal of carbon reduction in energy generation is viewed as an important national target to prevent the negative impacts of climate change on society.”

“This is notwithstanding the acknowledged conflict with landscape policies MTRA4 (Development in the Countryside), CP20 (Heritage and Landscape Character) and DM23 (Rural Character) and the conflict with Heritage policy CP20(Heritage and Landscape Policy. The development complies with a number of development plan policies, as identified above.”

Officer report

What consultees said

Several technical consultees raised no objection with conditions, while landscape, historic environment, CPRE and other bodies raised concerns about visual, heritage and countryside effects.

“Service Lead – Built Environment (Historic Environment) – • Objection due to concerns over nearby Heritage Assets adjacent to parcels 6 and 7”

“Service Lead – Public Protection (Environmental Health) – • Concerns raised regarding waste on site. Conditions (7, 13, 25) recommended. • Concerns regarding low frequency noise, condition (6 and13) recommended.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant’s supporters spoke in favour, parish representatives spoke against, and Councillor Culter raised residents’ concerns as a ward member.

What members discussed

Members were given cumulative impact information, visited parts of the site, and debated construction disruption, cabling, monitoring, reinstatement, consultation and community benefits.

“The application was introduced, and members were referred to the update sheet which provided consolidated, detailed information regarding cumulative impacts. In summary the update concluded that having regard to the points set out that cumulative impacts resulting from the solar development in combination with the nearby Ash Farm would be very modest and would reduce in the longer term to negligible.”

“It was noted that the committee had visited parts of the application site on 23 September 2025 to enable members to observe the site in context and to gain a better appreciation of the proposals.”

Minutes

The committee vote

The committee resolved to grant permission for the reasons and subject to the conditions and informatives, with two amendments delegated to officers for final wording.

“The committee agreed to grant permission for the reasons and subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report and on the update sheet, subject to two amendments to existing conditions, the final wording of which to be delegated to officers in consultation with the Chair as follows:”

“Condition 3(A) to be amended to require the removal of all associated solar farm infrastructure, both above and below ground, at the end of the development's operational life. Condition 12 to be amended to include an additional bullet point requiring the submission of a construction phasing plan for approval by the Local Planning Authority.”

Minutes