Solar farm ambitions dimmed after planning refusal
Plans for a solar farm with the capacity to power 8,000 homes have been voted down by Cornwall Council.
Copper Bottom Solar Farm is a 49-hectare site near Camborne planned by Aura Power Developments.
Planning officials from Cornwall Council had recommended plans for the site be approved, but planning committee members voted 9-2 to refuse.
Cornwall Council declared a climate emergency in January 2019 and has set an ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030.
However councillors chose to place greater importance on the loss of agricultural land, after the meeting heard representations from campaigners, residents and local MP George Eustice.
The Copper Bottom Solar Farm scheme forecast it would save 19,700 tonnes of CO2 every year.
It had gone through public consultation in late 2021 and submitted its application a year ago.
Bristol-based Aura has projects across Europe and North America. It has a permit secured for a proposed solar farm near Whimple, East Devon, while it is also progressing plans for a site in North Devon, at Litchardon Cross.
A map of the plans for Copper Bottom Solar Farm (Credit: Aura Power Developments)
More articles in
Sectors
