Council decides not to fight to prevent 250-acre solar farm

COUNCILLORS WERE TOLD THEY HAD ONLY A 10% CHANCE OF WINNING THE GREEN BELT ARGUMENT

- By JENNY SEYMOUR

SEVENOAKS councillors have decided not to fight an appeal against their authority's refusal to build a huge solar farm after they heard that new national planning rules make it likely they would lose.

In July 2024, the council rejected a proposal for a solar farm covering nearly 250 acres of the district's green belt.

Chimmens Solar Farm, on land between Horton Kirby and Fawkham, would generate enough electricity to power more than 19,000 homes, applicant RES says, and operate for up to 40 years.

Sevenoaks District Council originally refused it on four grounds: inappropriate development in the green belts, loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land, harm to the setting of listed buildings, and harm to the character of the landscape.

But in January - after changes to national policy, including the new designation of 'grey belt' came into force the applicant appealed to the planning inspectorate against the council's refusal.

RES argues its scheme, off Mussenden Lane, fits "sensitively into the existing landscape whilst maximising the low carbon, low-cost electricity generation", although it has made some minor amendments.