THE benefits of the proposed large-scale solar farm in Bramley outweigh the landscape and archaeological impacts on the neighbourhood, a planning appeal hearing has been told.

Aardvark EM Limited, which is appealing against the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s decision to refuse the plans, told the hearing that the council’s case for refusal is not sufficiently clear.

In April 2022, borough councillors refused plans for the solar farm in Bramley – which would power 17,000 homes and save 8,000 cars worth of carbon dioxide – after more than 650 members of the public objected.

The plans were refused by borough councillors because of the scale of the development.

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The decision notice said the plans would have an “adverse impact on the landscape and character of the area” and added that it would “result in harm to the local historic environment”.

The site in Minchens Lane, known as Bramley Frith, is more than 81 hectares and spans six fields to the north of the village.

Aardvark appealed against the decision on behalf of applicants Bramley Solar Ltd.

In an opening statement, Thea Osmund-Smith, representing the appellant, said the Bramley solar farm would produce clean and secure solar energy that would generate a striking biodiversity net gain of 100 per cent.

“Such large benefits can only be achieved by a large scheme. And with that comes inevitable albeit irreversible effects, particularly, in landscape terms. However on the whole, the impact, in this case, is minimal.

“The proposal should be granted permission as it complies with the development plan.”

She said, although the rules do not require the applicant to consider alternatives, the appellant did look at this but no adequate alternatives were found.

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Ben Du Feu, representing the borough council, told the hearing reasons for refusals including the landscape and archaeological impacts.

“Archaeology remains within the site, during the life of the solar farm it would limit the opportunity for future archaeological research.”

Bramley Solar Farm Residents Group has been campaigning against the project since it was conceived.

A spokesperson for the group also addressed the hearing and called the proposal “nationally irresponsible”.

“The proposal is massive with over 100,000 panels of 3-3.5m height, 16 transformer stations, CCTVs. This is a very large-scale application with a second separate element incorporating 20 battery storage containers and associated projects.

“The proposal will significantly harm heritage assets, highly valued landscape within the surrounding site, public pathway.”