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A decision by a Cornwall Council planning committee to refuse a controversial application to build a solar farm across 22 fields has been overturned at appeal.
Councillors deliberated in February 2025 on a plan by Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy to site a 40MW solar farm on almost 200 acres of farmland at Gwinear, near Hayle.
Speedwell Solar Farm Ltd, owned by energy giant Statkraft, wants to put a solar park on 22 agricultural fields at the site. The development would be operational for 40 years and have the potential to power the equivalent of 12,000 homes.
Cornwall Council planning officers recommended approval despite concerns about the loss of very best Grade 3 agricultural land and harm to the setting of Grade II listed Lanyon Farmhouse and other buildings, among other worries.
However, after a long debate about the proposal, which also includes a 50-space car park and wildlife area for Gwinear Community Primary School, the application was refused on a vote of ten in favour with none against and one abstention.
Harm to nearby heritage buildings and the change from post-medieval farmland to an industrial landscape were cited as reasons.
You can read more about the proposals here: Plan for solar farm across 22 fields next to primary school
Speedwell Solar Farm Ltd appealed the decision and following a hearing in January this year, planning inspector R E Jones overturned the refusal last month.
The government inspector found that the solar farm would not have a significant adverse impact “with regard to cumulative landscape and visual effects”, and wouldn’t result in significant harm or loss of “best and most versatile agricultural land”.
The inspector judged that the proposal would cause harm to the designated heritage assets at the site, but the benefits of the renewable energy project outweighed that harm.
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Speaking at last year’s committee meeting, Serena Eustice, who runs the popular neighbouring Trevaskis Farm restaurant, farm shop and fruit picking business with her brother Giles, said: “Meeting our energy goals cannot be used to justify the wrong development in the wrong location.
“This is the wrong location because it’s best and most versatile land, because of the cumulative effects of another solar farm application in this area and because of the heritage impact.
“There is nothing about this application which is of benefit to the Gwinear parish or indeed Cornwall. This electricity is going up the line. In fact, everything about this application is to the detriment to the region.”
Gwinear-Gwithian Parish Council objected to the plan. Representatives from St Erth Parish Council, Hayle Town Council and the then divisional member at Cornwall Council also spoke against the proposal.
Planning agent Ed Salter spoke on behalf of the applicant. He said Speedwell Solar would deliver multiple benefits including providing renewable energy to the equivalent of 12,000 homes, a 71 per cent biodiversity net gain and a car park and wildlife area for Gwinear Primary School.
He added that a search for land of a similar size in an eight kilometre radius from the network connection did not find any other suitable locations with poorer quality agricultural land. He stressed the solar farm would be temporary and reversible.
The landowners, Albertine and Geoffrey Leggo, are fourth generation farmers who bought their first farm in 1967 and purchased Lanyon Farm 1990.
Mrs Leggo said she supported the proposal on her land because “it allows the land to rest and regenerate, and it enhances biodiversity. It provides sustainable renewable energy for our community.”
She added: “It is suggested that a significant amount of land is being taken out of food production. This is simply not the case. It is important to understand that we don’t have to think of solar energy and farming as a choice of either/or. There is more than enough land to achieve both energy and food security, allowing us to become self-sufficient as a nation.
“Renewable energy projects like Speedwell Solar Farm are vital for the livelihood and prosperity of future generations in Cornwall and the UK. A solar farm today does not mean we cannot have food production tomorrow.”
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