Plans have been approved for the construction of a huge solar farm in Nottinghamshire to "address climate change".
Permission has now finally been granted after appeal for the 49.9 MW solar farm to be built on a site of approximately 100ha north of Halloughton, in Southwell.
The project is set to provide a reduction of around 20,690t of CO2 and meet the energy needs of at least 12,000 homes.
It comes after Pegasus Group provided expert landscape, heritage and planning witness on behalf of clients JBM Solar Projects 6 Limited at the public inquiry into Newark & Sherwood District Council’s refusal of the application.
In allowing the appeal, the inspector quoted 18th Century French soldier and politician Francois de Charette: "You cannot make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.”
While recognising the great weight required to be attached to the conservation of a Heritage Assets, the inspector considered that the imperative to tackle climate change outweighed the temporary harm.
In allowing the appeal, permission is granted for the construction of solar farm and battery stations together with all associated works, equipment, and necessary infrastructure.
Pegasus Group Executive Director Paul Burrell said: “This is an excellent result for our client JBM Solar Projects 6 Limited, and a real Pegasus Group team effort.
“We provided landscape, heritage and planning witness as well as full appeal project management.
"And as a jointly resourced office project, with our Cirencester office leading on planning and landscape while colleagues from the Leeds office led on heritage, it demonstrates how we effectively pool resources in order to provide a winning service.
"My view is that this is therefore a decision which shows the strength and weight that is presently being afforded to addressing climate change as a material consideration.”
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