Durham County Council rejected the plans for the Seaham solar farm (file photo)
Plans for a large solar farm, which one resident said would leave her "surrounded" by panels, have been rejected.
Elements Green Renewables applied to build the farm on green belt land in Seaham, which it said would generate enough electricity to power about 16,000 homes.
Durham County Council refused permission for the scheme on Stockton Road, after hearing objections from Celia Wright who said it would have a "monumental impact" on her family's life.
The company said it believed the scheme's "very special circumstances" outweighed any harm and the project would deliver "clear and urgent clean energy benefits".
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, external, Wright told the council's planning committee: "Our house and surrounding garden will have solar panels on three sides of our property boundary.
"We will be surrounded.
"We spend a lot of time in the garden and have a vegetable allotment – the panels will literally be just over the fence."
The site straddles the boundary between County Durham and Sunderland, meaning planning permission was required from both councils.
Ahead of Wednesday's committee hearing, planning officers recommended refusal after ruling the development was "inappropriate".
A report said the proposal would harm the openness of the green belt and the surrounding landscape, as well as impacting the character of the area during its early years.
The application attracted 79 letters of support, arguing the project would help tackle climate change, improve energy security and create jobs, while generating enough renewable electricity to supply thousands of homes.
Elements Green Renewables said the development was temporary and fully reversible, adding it had found no suitable non-green belt alternative with comparable access to the electricity grid.
The farm was due to remain in place for 40 years.
The council received 16 objections, including from the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the East Durham Action Group and Seaham Town Council.
Concerns included the loss of agricultural land, harm to wildlife and the landscape.
County councillors Andrew Harrison and Chris Fairs also objected to the plans.
Debating the proposal, Independent councillor Alan Bell described the site as "an absolutely stunning area".
"If we put a solar farm on there, it would destroy it," he said.
The decision came after the developer submitted an appeal against the council for failing to determine the application within the required timescale.
However, council officers said they had not received confirmation from the Planning Inspectorate that the appeal had been accepted.
Follow BBC North East on X, external, Facebook, external, Nextdoor and Instagram, external.
Do you have a story suggestion for BBC Wear?
Blocked solar farm plan to be appealed
Solar farm rejected over harm to 'rural paradise'
Green light given to £200m solar farm
Durham County Council
Sunderland City Council
Gaps in Metro service of almost 30 minutes after 'issue' found on new train fleet during maintenance
When a Sunderland pub got a new name, new look and zoned music
Man devastated by partner's death drove after drinking at wedding
County Durham village fights to save church and hall from closure
County Durham village banner to march at Miners' Gala for first time in two decades
Tyneside thief trapped shop worker's hand and covered her mouth as he stole money from till
Watch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC
Bayeux Tapestry delivered to British Museum in dead of night
Former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe dies at 78
Police investigate Reform donations, the Times reports
All the best looks from Paris Haute Couture Week 2026
The youth clubs fighting to stay relevant in the social media age
Loyal and royal: How the future King became a football superfan
How an app in South Korea will let victims track their stalkers. VideoHow an app in South Korea will let victims track their stalkers
Weekly quiz: Why did Australia's PM apologise to Kylie Minogue?
The Papers: 'Bereaved families' fury' and 'Happy feet'
Swapping homes with strangers means we now get two holidays a summer
'I was needle spiked in a nightclub on my first holiday with friends'
Royal Watch: Get the latest royal stories and analysis with Sean Coughlan’s weekly newsletter
Your first look at a high stakes thriller crackling with danger
Mbappe’s rise from the Parisian suburbs to global superstardom
25 years ago, the world met David Brent
What is fuelling the sudden rise in the illegal ant trade?
Former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe dies at 78
'Cool in 90 seconds' – the fake portable air conditioners sweeping the internet
Bayeux Tapestry delivered to British Museum in dead of night
'Bereaved families' fury' and 'Happy feet'
At least 11 die in Spain wildfire as heatwave continues in Southern Europe
Police investigate Reform donations, the Times reports
EasyJet agrees in principle to rival £5.7bn takeover bid
BBC radio DJ Paul Gambaccini diagnosed with Alzheimer's
'I was needle spiked in a nightclub on my first holiday with friends'
How can I get air conditioning in my home and how much does it cost?
Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.

source