Solar panels beat good farmland as inspector approves renewable energy plan for Shropshire field
Food security or energy security - it's one of the biggest questions of our age - at least for campaigners, who say it is more important to grow crops on farmland than cover productive acres with solar panels.
But for one planning inspector who agreed that good quality farmland would be lost by a scheme at the 28.5-hectare site off Squirrel Lane in Ledwyche, near Ludlow, it was more important to tackle climate change.
On the impact on landscape, visual amenity, farmland and agricultural land, inspector John Woolcock, agreed that the proposal would have an adverse impact.
"I consider that underutilising a significant area of grade 3a best and most versatile agricultural land for such a long period would result in an adverse effect of moderate significance," he said. A solar farm would stay on the land for at least 40 years.
The impact on the estate farmland look of the area would have an "adverse effect of moderate significance", on landscape it would have an "adverse effect of moderate/minor significance".
And on visual amenity the adverse impact effect would be "moderate/minor".
But when considering what is known as the 'planning balance' - a set of scales by which planners measure these things - Mr Woolcock was unequivocal. It falls in favour of the scheme.
He used the words "substantial weight" to describe the factors in its favour and to a plan that overwhelms the words "moderate" or "minor" in his assessment of the factors weighing against it.
He said: "The benefits of renewable energy and contribution to climate change mitigation attract substantial weight given local and national policy support.
