"High Court rules Burnhope Solar farm approval was 'unlawful'," 24 February 2024

A council decision to grant planning permission for a large solar farm in the County Durham countryside was "unlawful", a High Court judge has ruled. 

The proposal to build the 92-hectare site on farmland near Burnhope was approved by Durham County Council in March 2023 despite residents’ concerns it would devastate the nearby community. ...

Lightsource BP, the applicant, said up to 14 fields would be covered in panels including those surrounding the Chapman’s Well Local Nature Reserve...

In a judgment published this week... Mr Justice Fordham ordered the planning permission be quashed because it is unlawful. ...

Michael Kelleher, Durham County Council’s head of planning and housing, said: “We are aware of the outcome of the Judicial Review and, whilst we are disappointed at the outcome, accept the High Court’s decision and will proceed to a redetermination of the planning application.”