PLANNERS have unanimously rejected proposals to site one of Cornwall's biggest solar farms so far on land at Tideford.

The application was by Bristol-based Elgin Energy EsCo Ltd for a 5mw solar farm on 58 acres of farmland at Lanthrone Farm.

Planning officials had recommended that Cornwall Council's strategic planning committee grant delegated approval allowing the head of planning to give permission, subject to a number of factors, including the receipt of amended plans which reinstated internal hedges. Committee members were advised that if appropriate amended plans reducing the development's impact on the landscape were not provided then the application should be refused on the grounds that it failed to respect the important historic field network and it therefore provided an unrelieved single mass of panels out of scale with, and unacceptably erosive to, the natural beauty and character of the landscape.

Councillors were told that 40 letters of objection had been received from 40 local property owners while a further 52 letters of petition had been submitted, along with a letter of objection, from the Campaign to Protect Rural England. One letter of support has also been logged.

St Germans Parish Council opposed the application saying there was large-scale local opposition to such a development on grade 2 agricultural land. Councillors also considered it would have a detrimental visual effect on the River Tiddy and River Lynher Area of Great Landscape Value.

The planning committee heard that since the application had been submitted the applicants had agreed to retain the ancient field boundaries within the site. Councillors were advised that part of the land on which the solar panels were to be sited was within the South East Caradon Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV).

In their report to the committee, planning officers said the impact of the proposed development on the surrounding landscape was one of the key planning considerations.

The report concluded that it was not considered the special qualities that give rise to the landscape being designated a AGLV would be undermined in a significant way.

After a lengthy debate, the committee voted unanimously to refuse the application.