Proposals for a 33.06 hectare solar farm east of the Gillingham Southern Extension with access off the B3081 at Park Farm have been refused by Dorset Council.

Councillors considered a detailed presentation by planning officer Ross Calahane on the application by Low Carbon Limited for the Fern Brook Solar Farm, including the expected impact from a variety of viewpoints.

David Took sought confirmation that it was a balancing act between the degree of harm and impact on landscapes and heritage assets against benefits of 30 MW power for 9968 homes, net gains for biodiversity, £50,000 for the Royal Forest Project and footpath improvements.

Head of planning Mike Garrity said that the wording in the NPPF (New Planning Policy Framework) was not helpful, but gave significant weight to heritage, whilst the weight attached to the climate emergency was an evolving issue which could not outweigh in every case.

Cllr Shane Bartlett asked were as many using the footpaths as those expected to benefit from the solar power, but planning officer Hannah Smith said the White Hart Link was more than a public right of way since it linked Shaftesbury and Motcombe, and whilst it was closer to the southern extension it would be used by people living there.

Chairman Cllr Robin Cook said they had to consider “the unconscious effect on the community as a whole.”

Cllr Sherry Jespersen recognised the need for solar power, but said: “I have known this landscape all my life, it’s not simply an attractive area of agricultural land, it is valued historic landscape.”

She said it was not just a question of leisure use or the number of people using it for leisure, but the evidence from the project to develop the White Hart Link, the money raised for the Royal Forest project by the community, and that the people of Gillingham and Motcombe were doing everything they could to protect it.

The Southern Extension, including 630 homes and a primary school, already encroached on the area, but with support of people of Gillingham who understood the need for homes.

“Part of the understanding was that that was where development would end,” said Cllr Jespersen. “This is not an appropriate landscape for a solar farm for all the reasons outlined, and I don’t feel the benefit anywhere near outweighs the harm.”

Cllr Belinda Ridout, commenting the amended plans meant the benefit was less than first thought, said: “I can’t stress enough the importance of the Royal Forest which escalated through consultation on the southern extension. We have stags and deer on roundabouts and entrance signs: it is unique undisturbed open landscape with three ancient monuments, and it is important to see the visual connectivity. The planting to screen the solar farm will look totally out of place, and it will be an absolute tragedy for the Royal Forest project if this goes ahead.”

A proposal for a site visit by Cllr Kelvin Clayton, second by Cllr Bartlett, was defeated on the casting vote of chairman Cllr Cook, and Cllr Jespersen’s proposal of refusal, second by Cllr Ridout, was carried by eight votes to four.

By Nicci Brown