PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have given the go-ahead for a 2.5 mw solar farm on Green Belt land at Lymm, after one of the most divisive planning rows in the village of recent times.
The scheme at Wildersmoor Hall Farm, off Higher Lane, was put forward by Lymm Community Energy Ltd.
It was supported by Lymm Environmental Action Forum (LEAF) – a community group focussed on the climate emergency and nature but was opposed by more than 40 local people when it came before the borough council’s development management committee.
Sixteen letters supporting the project went sent to the council and planning officers recommended it for approval.
The applicants claimed the development was proposed for poor quality agricultural land. They argued the solar panels would be fairly inconspicuous and would be mounted on stilts so that sheep can shelter and graze beneath them.
LEAF project co-ordinator Ray Banton said the panels would be a huge asset to Lymm, producing sufficient “green” energy. to power over 400 homes and, arguably more importantly, it could provide enough green energy to power Lymm High School where the next generation of around 2,000 current young pupils would become interested in the technology which would undoubtedly power their homes in the future .
Lymm Parish Council – which has declared a climate emergency – supported the scheme.
But TV presenter Russell Harris, who spent eight years converting the historic Lymm Water Tower into his own home, overlooking the wind farm site, said more than 40 local people had united to oppose the scheme.
They said the scheme would open the floodgates to future development across the Green Belt.
Mr Harris argued that planning officer had recommended approval by claiming the site was “Grey Belt” rather than saying there were “very special circumstances” as normally required for Green Belt development.
He said: “’Grey Belt’ is not a legal planning designation – it’s a vague policy idea and this land remains firmly designated as Green Belt in the Local Plan.
“If this gets approved, it could be used as a precedent for unlocking development across vast areas of countryside.”
The objectors claimed the application ignored more suitable fields on the same farm where the solar farm could be built without damaging views.
The applicants said they believed the project would deliver value to the area.
They wished to be “good neighbours” and would be happy to work closely with nearby residents as they did not wish to upset local people.
