Ash Level solar farm: developer appeals against planning refusal

All too predictably, the developer behind the proposed Little South Solar Farm on Ash Level is appealing against the decision to refuse planning permission for the scheme.

Its potential impact on the scheduled national monument of Richborough Fort and Amphitheatre convinced Dover District Council’s planning committee that it should not be allowed to proceed and in November members voted 10-0 to reject the 205-acre scheme from Norwegian state-owned company Statkraft (operating here as Little South Clean Energy Ltd) for Goshall Valley, East Street.

CPRE Kent had submitted a substantial objection to the scheme, which was also opposed by Kent Wildlife Trust and Ash, Preston, Sandwich and Staple parish councils, among more than 650 representations.

The wider campaign, though, was led excellently by Save Ash Level, which cited among its concerns:

• Harm to the heritage significance and landscape setting of the scheduled Roman site of Richborough, which includes the Grade I-listed Richborough Castle
• Destruction of an area enjoyed by locals for walks, bike rides and horse rides
• The land is potentially Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land at Grades 1, 2 and 3a
• Threat to protected species such as water vole, beaver, turtle dove and barn owl

As many had anticipated, however, Statkraft (Little South Clean Energy) has appealed the decision and the subsequent inquiry is scheduled to run from Tuesday, September 15, to Friday, September 25.

• To read more on this story, click here
•  To read the CPRE Kent response to the original planning application, click here
• To read our submission for the appeal hearing, click here
•  To learn more about the campaign, visit the Save Ash Level website