Thumbs down for Hayle solar farm

Posted By Rashleigh MacFarlane on 13 February 2025

By Rashleigh MacFarlane

Councillors have voted to reject plans for 200 acres of solar panels in the Cornish countryside near Hayle.

About 185 acres at Lanyon Farm, to the north of Gwinear Lane, Gwinear, Hayle, and nine acres at Loggans Road, Hayle, were the subjects of two applications coming before Cornwall Council’s strategic planning committee.

Committee members voted 10-0, with one abstention, to refuse permission – contrary to the advice and recommendation of their officials.  The applicants are now expected to appeal.

Public comments on the applications were roughly 2-1 against.  A recurring theme from the objectors was the cumulative effect of solar farms and the loss of land for food production.

The Gwinear site would have operated for 40 years.  The smaller Loggans Road scheme has 100% of 17 public comments recorded as objectors.

In April last year the council agreed to undertake a study into how much land Cornwall had for food production, where it was and what limits, if any, should be put on solar farms.  That study has still not been completed – indeed it is far from certain if it has even started.

Planning officials argued that the benefit of renewable energy, during a climate emergency, outweighs the other considerations.

But the motion to refuse permission, proposed by councillor Nick Craker and seconded by councillor Andrew Long, said the reverse was true and that any benefits of the scheme did not outweigh the loss of agricultural land.

A major theme of the two-and-a-half hour debate was the loss of land for food production.  Several councillors pointed out that while the council had declared a climate emergency, it should also recognise there is a food emergency.