A solar farm has been approved for green belt land near a village in Derbyshire, despite concerns about the loss of countryside.
North East Derbyshire District Council’s planning committee approved Ethical Power Development Limited’s planning application for land south of Green Acres, off Langer Lane in Wingerworth, during a meeting on Tuesday.
It said “very special circumstances” outweighed any potential harm to the countryside, adding noise and increased traffic would be temporary and not be detrimental enough to warrant refusal.
Wingerworth Parish Council had objected to the application over concerns about the impact on the environment and nearby homes.
The scheme involves a 7.5 megawatt solar array with panels no taller than 3m (10ft) on seven hectares of agricultural land, creating clean energy for 2,760 properties.
As many as 18 residents submitted 21 representations to the district council objecting to the scheme, the Local…
