Plans for solar farm near Axminster given approval

East Devon District Council has approved planning permission for a solar farm close to the border with West Dorset, near Axminster, despite some objections from the public.

Parts of the site, between Monkton Wyld and the hamlet of Blackpool Corner, are within 300 metres of the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and could be seen from the A35 Bridport to Axminster road, the B3165 and the minor road between Blackpool Corner and Axminster.

Dorset Council, which was also consulted on the application, gave its approval back in February and East Devon District Council granted permission this month. 

The 19 MW ground-mounted installation with 35,000 panels, transformer stations, tracks, security fencing and CCTV camera could be in place for 40 years. Anesco Ltd say that the site would produce enough power for 5,150 homes.

The application was for 69 acres at Beavor Grange Farm, near Axminster, over five fields south of Stammery Hill and New Park Coppice. Most of the site is described as a hill top plateau.

The application attracted objections, including from the Devon Campaign to Protect Rural England and residents living in the area.

The campaign group said in its objection: "The proposed solar farm would adjoin the existing Newlands solar farm which covers 30 acres. The total area of the two solar farms would be about 100 acres with about 57,000 solar panels."

Among the objections was a claim that extra traffic during the six-month construction phase would be unacceptable in the area, although others welcome the proposal saying that it would help to cut greenhouse gas emissions by providing an alternative to fossil-fuel based energy.