A Cornwall Council planning committee heard concerns its creation would see the loss of vital agricultural land across 16 fields near Camborne - an area larger than Connor Downs within the parish.

Aura Power Developments Ltd had applied to create the solar farm on just over 49 acres of land at Carnhell Green for 35 years, after which it would be decommissioned.

The council’s planning department had recommended approval, noting that although the proposal “would result in the loss of some best and most versatile agricultural land, change the character of the immediate rural landscape and give rise to some ecological harm … they are considered to be far outweighed by the economic, social and environmental benefits of a strategic-scale renewable energy development, making a valuable contribution towards the council’s target of becoming carbon neutral by 2030”.

The strategic planning meeting, held in Truro on Thursday, August 10, heard that the majority of the land was classed as 3b with just under 30 per cent of the site being the very best 3a agricultural land. The council had received representation from local MP George Eustice MP suggesting that the solar farm should go elsewhere.

He said: “In the context of Cornwall, I believe that it would be appropriate and consistent with national planning policy for Cornwall Council to seek to protect 3b land which has a recent history of being cropped for horticultural production and instead encourage solar developers to seek opportunities on grade 4 land which is readily available in Cornwall or, alternatively, land classified as 3b but which has been judged unsuitable for horticultural production and has no history of horticultural production.”

An aerial photograph showing the size of the proposed solar farm near Camborne

Speaking at the meeting, Jean Sharman, who lives at Penhale Farm, opposite the proposed solar farm, said: “Whilst providing the opportunity for renewable energy is crucial, we also need to consider the potential implications it has for existing farming activities. It is vital that we do not compromise the ability for farmers to continue farming and therefore contribute to the real environmental needs of this area.

“I have researched and can confirm that this land has been used for agricultural purposes for over 80 years and beyond.”

Michael Smith, representing Gwinear-Gwithian Parish Council, added: “We object to this proposal but please don’t think we are a NIMBY council. In 2010 we had our first solar farm, in 2012 we had our second solar farm and we were the first parish council in the whole of Cornwall to create a sustainable community fund.

“Putting the scale of the development into context, the largest village in our parish is Connor Downs which is just under 34 hectares, which is the amount of land the solar arrays will cover within the 50-hectare development, so the actual solar panels will be as greater distance as the whole of Connor Downs, which is a large village.

“Again, putting the development into context the parish currently sustains two solar developments totalling 29 hectares, so this development alone is almost twice the size of those developments. We as a council are convinced that the applicant has not provided compelling evidence that there is not suitable poorer quality area available nearby to avoid the loss of high quality land.”

What the applicants said

George Wilyman, representing Aura Power Developments, stressed the ecological need for solar farms due to the climate crisis, highlighting this year’s hottest July on record globally. “As a direct measure against climate change, the UK government has responded by committing to decarbonising the electricity grid by 2035. To meet this there is a requirement for a five-fold increase in solar capacity in the UK from around 14 gigawatts currently to 70 by 2035. The proposed development responds directly to this requirement.

“With the capacity of 30 megawatts the development will power the equivalent of 8,000 Cornish homes. It is anticipated to save over 19,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year. It will contribute towards strengthening the UK’s energy security, reducing the reliance on importing expensive fossil fuels.”

He said there would be extensive landscaping proposals creating a biodiversity net gain of 66 per cent and added that the agricultural land was of a type not considered best and most versatile. He said sheep grazing would continue during the operation of the solar farm, which would generate around £80,000 in business rates to Cornwall Council every year as well as providing jobs.

Chloe Hood works for the applicant but was speaking on behalf of local resident David Yabsley, who was unable to attend the meeting. His statement said he had lived on Penhale Road since 1995, adjacent to the proposed site, and he fully supported the scheme.

“I see this proposal as an extremely good use of land which is predominantly moorland with no real impact upon anyone. There is hardly any visual impact and no noise,” said Mr Yabsley, who said the development helped achieve the decarbonisation of the National Grid.

The committee's views

Cllr Loveday Jenkin said it was a difficult decision but her personal view and that of neighbouring Crowan Parish Council was that it was a much better use of the land than seeing it used for houses.

Green councillor Tamsyn Whiddon pointed out that application was temporary, albeit for 35 years, and delivered biodiversity net gain, and supported the proposal as a result.

Cllr Alan Jewell, a farmer, argued the quality of the land was closer to 3a rather than 3b: “This part of Cornwall is known as the ‘bread basket’ of Cornwall. This land is good land. I think there would be more people involved in the farming of that land than there would in the solar farm. You could argue this is the industrialisation of the countryside to the benefit of very few people. This will not contribute a lot to the local economy.

“Cornwall Council’s policy is to not allow any solar farms on Grade 3a land on our estate. How can we accept this on Grade 3a land when we don’t allow it on the 11,000 acres we own ourselves?”

Cllr Dulcie Tudor said that in this case the 3b land should be protected and the area was doing enough for renewable energy, while Cllr John Fitter added that what was “right for the nation” was using the land for agricultural use and renewable energy could be created at far more suitable sites in Cornwall.

The application was refused by nine votes to two on the grounds that 28 per cent of the site is classed as “best and most versatile” 3a land and the remainder of the land, which is mainly 3b, has a significant benefit as it is able to be double cropped each year, and thus development was not justified.