Rejecting solar farm could cost council £400k

Plans for a 72,000 panel solar farm on green belt land have again been rejected by councillors with warnings it could cost £400,000 at appeal.

Sevenoaks District Council (SDC) officers had recommended proposals for the 235 acre (95 hectare) scheme at New Ash Green be approved, but on Tuesday, members of the development management committee voted against the plans.

But the applicant Evolution Power say it is likely to call for a government-appointed planning inspector's inquiry, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The company said the council could be liable for legal costs if the appeal is successful.

Members voted to reject the planned development, which would power some 17,200 homes, on the grounds of the harm it would cause the local landscape and heritage assets, such as listed buildings.

More than 1,300 public comments have been submitted regarding the plans – the majority of which have been against them.

First submitted in December 2024, the plans were also rejected in January this year, but members agreed to defer a final decision for legal advice and further investigations.

However, an officer has now told councillors they have to be mindful of their decisions being deemed as "unreasonable behaviour", should an inspector be given a reason to uphold a legal challenge from the applicant.

In a statement from Evolution Power ahead of the meeting, its director Conor McNally said: "The development management committee members cannot lawfully refuse a proposal just because they dislike it.

"Valid reasons for refusal need to be identified, or else the application must be approved, in line with the officer recommendation.

He added that "any other action is highly likely to result in an award of costs, estimated at £400,000, against the council".

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