SANDRIDGE Solar Farm developers have put in an appeal following Wiltshire Council’s decision to reject their proposed 80-hectare solar farm to the east of Melksham.
The application was rejected earlier this year by the council’s strategic planning committee due to the size and scale of the solar farm which councillors decided would dominate the landscape and have a negative impact on those living in the area.
The developers say that the large site would have generated enough power to generate electricity across the town and would have also provided a community fund worth over £1million to Melksham with £44,000 paid per year over the 25-year lifetime of the solar project.
However, the controversial plans had caused outrage amongst residents in Seend and led to a campaign group called Wiltshire Protect being formed to oppose the plans.
Director of Sandridge Solar Farm St. John Hughes said, “We were very disappointed with the decision. It is a robust application that fulfils planning policy and guidelines, and an established need for more renewables in the county.
“The public, local parish councils and town council are strongly in favour of it, and the planning officer has recommended approval, so naturally we will appeal. The substantial positive benefits for the county and the UK outweighed the minor impacts.”
• What do you think? Should the Sandridge Solar Farm application be accepted following appeal? Email news@ melkshamnews.co.uk.
