PLANS for a major solar farm at Highampton have received the go-ahead, following an appeal.

West Devon Borough councillors in?September turned down TGC Renewables' application for a solar farm at Willsland, covering seven hectares — despite a planning officer's recommendation to grant the scheme.

The plans include solar panels, perimeter fences measuring no higher than 2.4 metres, CCTV and three small substations.

The plans state the site would be screened by existing trees and hedgerows to minimise any visual impact, and had been changed to limit the impact on a neighbouring property by removing the northernmost field included in the original proposal.

During the initial application process, there were no objections to the scheme from Dartmoor National Park or Natural England.

Inspector Wendy J Burden visited the site on February 21, and granted permission for the scheme on March 7.

In her report, she stated: 'The appeal site is within open countryside and consists of fields of grazing land separated by established hedges.

'It is gently undulating with attractive long views, including views to the Dartmoor National Park. However, the appeal site is not within any nationally recognised designated landscape.

'The impact of the development would be softened through its division into discrete blocks separated by the existing hedgerows. These would be restored and maintained, such that the existing landscape pattern would not be disturbed.

'Furthermore, the established hedgerows which define the fields both within and surrounding the appeal site would provide effective screening of the arrays from a number of locations within the immediate vicinity of the site.

'In view of the distance from Dartmoor, the development would not have any harmful impact on the character or appearance of the National Park.

The decision has disappointed the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, which has long been opposed to the solar farm proposal.

Penny Mills from the CPRE said: 'The CPRE are, of course, very disappointed with this decision and concerned with many of the points made in the inspector's report, including that the agricultural land of the site is of low value, and that the appeal site is not within any nationally recognised designated landscape.

'Fifty-nine per cent of Devon landscape has no special designation, particularly in North, West and mid Devon, so this is a huge concern.

'This will encourage developers to continue to target these areas where it is seemingly easier to get permission. The landscape is under threat from lack of special designation.'

The 2.8 megawatt scheme will now supply Highampton and the surrounding area with green electricity.

Ben Cosh, managing director of TGC Renewables, said: 'From the outset of the project we have have modified our proposal to ensure that, in addition to producing green and sustainable energy, we have a development that takes into account perspectives from the local community. 

'The South West is a region that holds so much potential for solar power, and by taking advantage of this, we can provide additional income for our landowners in a time when farming is increasingly challenging, allowing them to diversify whilst ensuring we as a country move away from ever more expensive imported energy supplies.'