High Court refuses council permission to bring appeal over solar farm decision

The High Court has refused to allow a council to bring an appeal against a planning inspector's decision to grant planning permission for a new solar farm, despite opposition from the community.

Telford & Wrekin Council claimed that the Steeraway Solar Farm and neighbouring New Works Solar Farm would cover 230 acres and “blight the landscape surrounding the Wrekin for generations to come”.

The council’s planning committee refused planning permission for the 99-acre New Works solar farm, arguing that the project would harm an area of “outstanding natural beauty”.

However, Local Government Minister Lee Rowley overruled this in March, giving the solar farm the green light.

In May 2023, a planning inspector approved the Steeraway Solar Farm development. “In making the decision the inspector considered the Secretary of State’s decision at New Works and relied on this heavily to justify the decision to approve the second development”, said the council.

Telford & Wrekin subsequently sought to mount a legal challenge against Steeraway and neighbouring New Works Solar Farm.

However, it was revealed yesterday (10 August) that the High Court has refused to hear the appeal against Steeraway Solar Farm.

The council are yet to hear whether the case against New Works Solar Farm will be heard in court.

Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Housing, Transport and Enforcement, Cllr Richard Overton said: “I am bitterly disappointed that the courts will not hear our case against Steeraway.  

“The decisions to allow these farms to go ahead are against the view of our communities, our planning officers and the planning committee. Even the government’s own planning inspector refused the application for New Works Farm, only for this to be overturned by a government minister."

He added: “Anyone who lives in the area can see that the farms will destroy a much-loved beauty spot, and from a planning perspective, some of our most valued strategic landscape. I suppose that if you’re in a Whitehall office, this doesn’t matter.

“I completely acknowledge the arguments in support of green energy production – but this shouldn’t be at the expense of our most important green space. Solar farms like this need to be built in the right places. The foot of the Wrekin is not the right place.”

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has been approached for comment.

Lottie Winson