A 210-acre solar farm a stone’s throw from one of Britain’s best-preserved Roman ruins has been given the green light following an appeal.
In April last year, campaigners toasted victory after proposals to build the power plant close to the ancient site were rejected following a two-year battle.
The solar farm would have been twice the size of Vatican City and was widely criticised as it would neighbour an important ancient monument.
The Roman ruins at Silchester, near Basingstoke, Hampshire, are described by English Heritage as “some of the best-preserved Roman town defences in England,” giving an “unusually complete” picture for archaeological investigations.
But now, after energy company Enso Energy appealed against the decision, it has been reversed and planning permission granted.
Under Enso’s initial plans, up to 100,000 solar panels would have been constructed on a 210-acre farm, lasting for 40 years, powering 17,000 homes and saving 8,000 cars’ worth of carbon dioxide.
In its appeal, the company submitted amended plans, saying there would be a “small reduction” in the number of panels and enhanced screening.
However, the site will remain 210 acres, have its own battery park, 16 transformer stations, which are 10ft high, plus “7km of security fencing” around it.
Furious locals have blasted the decision, claiming the proposed site is “immoral” and a “monstrosity”, even accusing those behind it of “green-washing”.
In 43AD, Silchester was established by the Romans as the town of Calleva Atrebatum.
It is home to ruins, a bathhouse, and the remains of an amphitheatre; experts believe there are discoveries that are yet to be made.
Richard McCoy, planning inspector for Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, granted planning permission, despite almost 700 people opposing it, including a leading expert on Roman Britain.
Mr McCoy said the harm to the Roman site would only be “minor”.
Leigh Harrison, chairman of Bramley Solar Farm Residents Group, said: “Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council are guilty of throwing away our Roman history by waving through this planning application without due care and attention.
“I don’t think our Roman heritage was even considered by the council… and that’s a travesty.”
Mr Harrison said over 4km of footpath around the site will be “blighted” by the farm.
He said: “There are Roman roads radiating across the area from the walls, once connecting the site to London, Winchester and Bath – we do not know what lies beside these routes and we may now be unable to ever know.
“I’m all for renewable energy and harnessing solar power but the plans need to be proportionate and in the right place with the correct local infrastructures.
“The plans for the proposed solar farm tick none of these boxes. The continued industrialisation of our countryside will permanently destroy the rural character of both Bramley and Silchester.”
Mr Harrison added: “Essentially the planning inspector decided that the dreadful impact of this vast glass-and-steel monstrosity on our treasured local landscape, covering over our best and most versatile land and on top of our important archaeological remains was somehow justified by its green-washing credentials and the generation of vast profits for unseen investors and land owners.”
‘Lost to future research’
Prof Michael Gordon Fulford CBE, an expert on Roman Britain, previously warned building a solar farm just a stone’s throw from the site, originally settled during the Iron Age, would mean it would be “lost to future research”.
Prof Fulford said: “We know little enough about the Roman town, never mind its Iron Age predecessors, and still less about their interaction with the countryside around.
“This proposed development threatens our ability over the medium and longer term to advance our knowledge of the landscape context of the unique monument that is Iron Age and Roman Calleva.”
He added that the development “substantially harms the integrity of the setting of what is, unquestionably, one of England’s most important ancient monuments."
Ranil Jayawardena, Tory MP for North East Hampshire, also previously opposed the plans.
Walking trails on the open fields in the area offer people a chance to see deer and six pairs of nesting red kites.
Enso Energy said it didn’t want to comment but is “pleased” with the decision.
Mr Harrison and his protest group have urged locals to lobby the council to try to obtain a judicial review.
