How part of the solar farm at Gwinear could look(Image: LDA Design / Speedwell Solar Farm Ltd)
CornwallLive readers have reacted with disappointment after a planning inspector overturned Cornwall Council’s refusal of a controversial 22 field solar farm near Hayle.
The application, brought by Speedwell Solar Farm Ltd, a subsidiary of Europe’s largest renewable energy producer Statkraft, proposed a 40MW solar development across almost 200 acres of farmland at Gwinear. The scheme would operate for around 40 years and is expected to generate enough electricity for about 12,000 homes.
Although council planning officers had recommended approval, councillors rejected the proposal in February 2025, citing concerns over the loss of high quality agricultural land and the impact on nearby heritage assets including the Grade II listed Lanyon Farmhouse.
Despite that, the developer appealed and a planning inspector later overturned the decision, ruling that the scheme would not cause significant landscape or visual harm, nor substantial loss of the best agricultural land. While some heritage impact was acknowledged, the inspector concluded the benefits of renewable energy outweighed the harm.
The scheme also includes a car park and a biodiversity area linked to Gwinear Community Primary School, with claims of a significant net gain for wildlife.
Local opposition had been strong, with objections from parish and town councils and nearby businesses, arguing the site was the wrong location and would industrialise productive farmland. Supporters, including the landowners, said the project would allow the land to recover, boost biodiversity and contribute to long term energy security, while still allowing farming and food production to continue alongside renewable generation.
Commenter Ballboy13 says: “Once again councillors ignore their officers' professional, experienced and informed recommendation and refuse planning permission leading to a costly appeal. Were costs awarded against the council? How much was it this time?”
John P thinks: “So much emphasis is being placed on the so called ‘temporary’ solar farm. But 40 years hardly feels temporary, and the loss of agricultural land, with panels placed right up against a medieval listed farmstead, is deeply concerning. It all feels like it’s being pushed through for the wrong reasons and at the expense of the landscape.”
AJSON agrees: “It’s hard to accept seeing the countryside being covered over. Land like this could be used for growing crops and farming animals instead. It’s frustrating that decisions like this are being made without clear public agreement, especially when people feel they are supposed to be represented. A lot of residents would rather see green fields protected, with no more housing or solar developments on valuable countryside.”
Mick6161 replies: “Solar panels only convert about 20% of sunlight into electricity anyway, which is not terribly efficient, they also lose efficiency above about 25 degrees centigrade, and degrade, losing efficiency annually, although in both cases the losses are small, but still, net zero trumps everything, including common sense.”
Jane B complains: “The whole countryside will be covered in them soon.”
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Joe K points out: “You are aware the land underneath is not impacted. We farm under them as usual. We are producing the same crop yield as before panels were installed.”
Leash B replies: “There are quite a few studies that suggest that isn’t really the case. A small setup on a bit of land put in by a farmer is very different to a purpose built solar farm covering over 200 acres. There are already some peer reviewed studies looking at early environmental impacts, but these large sites haven’t been around long enough yet to really know what the full long term effects will be over their whole lifespan.”
Katherine J adds: “We need fields for farming food, and the UK doesn’t get that much sun anyway. It makes you wonder how much power these solar farms will actually generate over 20 to 30 years before they end up as waste. And how much of all this is going to end up costing the taxpayer in the long run?”
Reuben W says: “Only 0.1% of land is used for solar energy production in the UK, that's a fact. The only way the UK becomes self-sufficient in food is by turning over most of the dairy grazing and cattle rearing land to crop cultivation and the population eating a lot less meat. Are you up for that?”
Baz T writes: “We’re paying wind farm companies billions not to produce energy because the grid can’t take it. People will be up in arms when pylons start appearing at the end of their gardens, like what’s happening in parts of Wales. And what actually happens to all the solar panels at the end of their lifespan? Most of it just ends up in landfill. We should be putting more focus on wave and tidal power instead, since it’s available 24/7, not just when it’s windy or daylight.”
Do you think solar farms like this are a sensible way to balance energy needs and farmland use, or are we losing too much productive countryside in the process? Have your say in our comments section.
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