The appeal is now live

The appeal documents for North Court Solar Farm were published on Ashford Borough Council (ABC)'s planning portal yesterday: AP-90713

The clock has started ticking!

ABC will notify any person who was notified or consulted and those who made representations to the application will be notified that an appeal has been made. They must do this by 11 December.

Interested party comments need to be submitted by 8 January 2025! Yet another Christmas ruined - 3rd in a row!

The Planning Inspector should do a site visit at some stage.

We are working hard going through the submitted appeal documents and if anyone can lend us their time that would be most helpful! Please let me know ASAP!

When we hear anything more or can give you further advice we will let you know.

Appeal Lodged

Just in case you have not heard, Green Switch Capital (GSC) lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate against Ashford Borough Council's refusal of planning in April. They had six months to appeal.

We do not know whether the Planning Inspectorate will accept the appeal or how long it will take to be processed. If they do accept the appeal, it will be by written representation. The council will notify us all and advise us of the next steps.

We will let you know when we hear anything more, but in the meantime, keep your posters up! If accepted, the Planning Inspector will do a site visit!

Planning REFUSED!

Just in case word hasn't reached you - Ashford Borough Council refused Planning Permission yesterday afternoon for North Court Solar Farm on the following grounds:

The proposed development would fail to conserve or enhance the special qualities, distinctive character and tranquillity of the site. It would result in significant adverse impacts on the rural landscape and be harmful to the setting of the Kent Downs National Landscape. The development would also harm the amenity and experience of users of the public rights of way, including the North Downs Way National Trail, and would cause less than substantial harm to the setting of designated heritage assets. The benefits of the proposed development would not outweigh these harms. The development would therefore be contrary to policies SP1, SP6, ENV1, ENV3a, ENV3b, ENV5, ENV10 and ENV13 of the Ashford Local Plan 2030, and the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework, National Policy Statements EN-1 and EN-3 and the Kent Downs AONB Management Plan 2021-2026.

This is great news for us all and we would like to thank you all for your support and encouragement to fight this proposal. Green Switch now have 6 months to Appeal the decision!

You can view more details about the refusal, including the decision notice and officer report via the Ashford Planning Portal.