Anti-solar campaigners in Angus have vowed to continue fighting the Berryhill farm array as developers consider similar projects in the county.
Members of the Save and Protect Angus Rural Environment (Spare) group declined to comment in detail earlier this year when the Scottish Government approved the Berryhill solar farm near the village of Fowlis, outside Dundee.
A government reporter overturned an earlier decision from Angus Council to refuse planning permission.
But citing a fresh wave of solar developments across the region, Spare members have refreshed their opposition to the near 50MW development.
A spokesman said: “The decision obviously left us and other objectors extremely disappointed and we have now considered the contents of the appeal decision.
“In our view, the upholding of the appeal has driven a coach and horses through local democracy, following a free vote by councillors to throw out the Berryhill solar array plan.
“We would argue this sets a precedent for other similarly large-scale solar power plants at similar arable farmland sites to be given the go ahead in Angus and beyond.”
Angus anti-solar group highlights other projects
The spokesman said the group had been looking at proposals in Coupar Angus, Kellas, Wellbank, Carmyllie, Suttieside and near Liff.
Developers Solar2 argue the Berryhill development will, when operational, provide enough electricity to meet the needs of one in five Angus households.
But the Spare campaign group maintains the Scottish Government’s drive for more renewable energy should not be allowed to “trump everything”.
“It is not known yet when work on the Berryhill solar power site will now begin,” the spokesman said.
“A number of significant conditions have been attached to the appeal decision
“Spare will be monitoring the situation closely to ensure the conditions are met.”
‘Only 4% of local households opposed to Berryhill farm’
Neil Lindsay is land and development director at Solar 2.
“Solar2 has spent three years carrying out detailed studies to support the planning application for the 49.9MW export capacity solar project at Berryhill.
“These studies showed that there would be minimal impact on the local area and its wildlife.”
He pointed towards solar-industry funded research that showed the vast majority of people living close to solar farms support them, with that number growing during the farm’s working life.
“We understand that there was a very small minority of the local community that did not want any change to the neighbourhood,” he said.
“To put this into perspective only 4% of local households objected to the proposal meaning that 96% were either ambivalent or supportive of the scheme.”
He said solar panels are “the cheapest form of generating electricity in the UK and probably the fastest to deploy.
“Berryhill, once operational, will provide the equivalent of one in five of Angus households’ annual electricity needs and could be built in around six months.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said its reporter “took full account of submissions made by all parties, including members of the local community.”
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