Planning permission was granted in October 2021 for a 20 MW Solar Farm at a 37 hectare site near Hockliffe, Bedfordshire. Andy assisted the client, Chiltern Renewables, through the pre-application process, undertaking a pre-application submission to the Council alongside a public consultation including a website providing information about the scheme, and the opportunity for local residents to provide comments through it. The Consultation confirmed that there was no opposition to the proposal from local residents, with a number of residents expressing support.
The Green Belt nature of the site resulted in a degree of concern from the Council’s Landscape Officer, but on balance the Council were satisfied that the benefits of the scheme, and the wider importance of introducing more renewables schemes to address climate change, warranted the planning application being approved. Councillors voted in favour of the application and following confirmation from the Secretary of State that he would not call the application in for determination (due to its Green Belt location) work is now expected to start on site in 2022.