Planning Appeal
RES is appealing against Sevenoaks District Council’s refusal of planning application (Reference 23/03181/FUL) for the proposed Chimmens Solar Farm.RES, as applicant, consider the original design of the scheme fitted sensitively into the existing landscape whilst maximising the low carbon, low-cost electricity generation. We have however, considered feedback and professional advice and following the refusal of the application, minor amendments have been made to the design of the proposal:
- Removal of all solar infrastructure from Field 9 (see F9 Skylark Area 1B on the enclosed Landscape Masterplan);
- Addition of low-level timber post and rail fence either side of the Public Right of Way (Route SD333) in Field F9;
- Provision of one additional skylark plot, enabling Field 9 to host two nesting pairs of skylarks;
- Higher grassland species richness in Field 9 resulting in an increased biodiversity net gain of 50.22% in habitat units (from 45.15%) and maintaining biodiversity net gain of 39.93% in hedgerow units.
The following drawings set out the minor design changes:
Additional ecological information including a revised Biodiversity Net Gain calculation following the minor amendments to the proposal can also be found here.
All parties with an interest in the appeal can make comments on the amended proposal directly to the Planning Inspectorate via the Appeals Casework Portal https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/ using the PINS Appeals Reference: APP/G2245/W/25/3359260.
Please make your comments by 25 March 2025.