Controversial solar farm now set to power 15,000 homes

CONTROVERSIAL solar farm has gone live in Mid Devon, almost three years after it was given the go ahead.

- by LEWIS CLARKE

Langford Solar Farm is now up and running

The 35-megawatt Langford Solar Farm, near Cullompton, is now generating enough clean energy to power thousands of homes while still stirring debate over its impact on the countryside.

Larger than 70 football pitches, it was given the green light in December 2022. Mid Devon District Council had rejected the application after it attracted more than 150 objections from the public, with concerns including that it would harm food production, ruin the landscape and be too big.

But the Government later overturned the decision following an inquiry led by the Planning Inspectorate, ruling there is “strong national and local policy support” in favour of the scheme, with the production of electricity adding “significant weight in favour of the proposal.”