CPRE Gloucestershire's involvement in the appeal

CPRE objected to the proposed solar array at Murrells End, citing adverse consequences for landscape and removal of ‘best and most versatile’ agricultural land from arable food production for decades. The planning authority refused the application and an appeal was lodged with the Planning Inspectorate.

In May, CPRE attended the appeal hearing to flag up to the planning inspector the recent changes in Government policy. Those changes added weight to retaining the availability of high grade land to produce food, which would have been effectively lost for the 40 year life of the solar project. We also successfully challenged the suggestion that the pattern of land quality across the site would significantly inhibit its productive capacity.

The inspector’s reasons for dismissing the appeal included the points which CPRE had raised – an encouraging outcome.