The plan to build one of Britain’s biggest solar power stations on 190 acres, the size of 105 Wembley Stadiums, between Mappowder and Pulham sparked outrage this year resulting in a massive campaign opposing the ‘destruction and visual blight’ of Hardy’s Vale. The scheme from North Dairy Farm Solar Limited (c/o British Solar Renewables) ignited a community response, co-ordinated by Mappowder Parish Council chair David Horrell, who formed the campaign group Save Hardy’s Vale. In letter of representation to Dorset Council, Save Hardy’s Vale claimed developers had ‘consistently, and significantly, underestimated the detrimental visual impact the solar generating plant would have on the surrounding valued landscape’.

Dorset planners have asked that ‘modifications and additional information’ are required from the developer and it is understood a planning hearing will be held in the first quarter of next year.

Rupert Hardy, chairman of North Dorset CPRE, said: “We accept the need for solar energy given climate change, and have not objected to a number of new solar farm proposals. However we felt that an industrial power station of this size and in this setting was totally inappropriate. “We favour roof-mounted solar panels and small community-led solar farms that can be well-screened from surrounding viewpoints. This is neither. “Our key concerns are still that the site is within the setting of the beautiful northerly part of the Dorset AONB, and will be visible from several cherished viewpoints and much of the Wessex Ridgeway path. “Other issues include amenity, heritage, ecological and flooding, which has become more apparent this autumn. “The approval by Dorset Council of a similar-sized solar farm last month at Higher Stockbridge, a few miles to the west is very regrettable, especially as there were, or are, equally strong reasons to refuse both. However there are some different issues too here. Hopefully the planning committee will pay heed to the substantial harm the proposal here would have on a nationally protected landscape while the flooding issue is very serious. The Higher Stockbridge decision was highly contentious, as the planning officer-recommended refusal, a number of key members of the committee were unable to be present and the reasons for approval very questionable. We remain optimistic, but not complacent, about the outcome here.”

– See the plans at: Dorset Council P/FUL/2021/01018 Richard Brown, CMLI Dorset AONB Landscape Planning Officer said: “I have conducted a review of the information that has been submitted and consider that modifications and additional information are required in order to ensure that the decision-making process considers all potentially significant effects on Dorset AONB. “AONB impact is not referred to in the pre-app advice, but is noted as a key consideration in the EIA screening opinion, with the site being recognised as highly visible in panoramic views from elevated land to the south (including within the designated landscape). “Views across the Vale from within the AONB are highly sensitive, due to their expansive, panoramic nature and there are numerous rights of way within the AONB from which such views can be appreciated. I would like to make the following initial suggestions for modifications and amendments to the information contained within the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment.· A wider study area should be utilised, in recognition of the expansive nature of the proposal and its potential intervisibility with the AONB.”

By Karen Bate
newsdesk@blackmorevale.net