Enviromena said it will appeal after Doncaster Council’s planning committee rejected its proposed 40-megawatt Marr Solar Farm, despite planning officers having recommended the scheme for approval.
The developer said planning officers amended their assessment late in the process, reclassifying the site from Grey Belt to Green Belt, but still concluded the project complied with planning policy and should proceed because of its public benefits.
Enviromena said it continues to regard the land as Grey Belt, citing previous interpretations and the site’s characteristics.
“We are extremely disappointed that councillors have gone against the professional assessment of their own officers, who recommended this scheme for approval even after revising their designation view,” said Mark Harding, Enviromena’s chief development officer.
Harding said the company believed the decision was not supported by the evidence and that it would pursue an appeal. “In addition to delivery of renewable energy the project will also bring crucial biodiversity gains and socio-economic benefits both at national and local level,” he said.
The company said it recently secured a successful appeal on another solar project, where a planning inspector overturned a refusal and concluded that the land in question should be treated as Grey Belt.
Enviromena also said the case for the Marr Solar Farm was strengthened by the publication of the draft National Planning Policy Framework during the council committee meeting.
“We maintain that the correct designation for this land is Grey Belt, and the planning evidence clearly supports that position,” said Chris Marsh, Enviromena’s chief executive.
“With the urgent need for clean, reliable energy, decisions must be rooted in evidence and established policy,” Marsh added. “We are confident that an appeal will reaffirm the strong merits of this scheme.”
