A new solar farm could be coming to a property in the Forest of Bowland, as plans are submitted to Pendle Borough Council.
Avalon Town Planning submitted the proposal on behalf of the applicant, Claire Loach, to introduce 30 ground-mounted solar panels on land in Newchurch-in-Pendle.
The site is located within open countryside, but is not within a conservation area nor a designated heritage asset, and is next to a "substantial" five-bedroom detached property.
A planning statement said: "With an ever-increasing cost of energy supply and a need to reduce energy bills, our client is aiming to look at ways of reducing those bills and improving energy efficiency to the dwelling house.
"The proposal seeks the installation of ground-mounted solar panels within the garden curtilage to the North East of the dwelling.
"The proposed installation will comprise 30 solar panels in total (arranged in 3 rows of 10) of a freestanding ballasted PV-mounted 'bucket' type system to provide the most efficient supply of solar energy.
"The proposals are not visible from any part of Well Head Road, and therefore it is considered that there is very little harm to the appearance and character of the area."
Engineering operations, either for connecting the array to the battery or fixing the panels to the ground, are not included within the application.
However, the plans have so far received one objection from the community,  who highlighted the aesthetic impact of the development.
They said: "We cannot allow this area of natural beauty to be tarnished with these ugly solar panel installations. We live within the same area, and we simply have a mobile (petrol) generator on standby just in case we suffer a power cut.
"Having only experienced maybe three power cuts, none of them lasting more than a couple of hours, in over five years that we have lived here.
"I very strongly object to this application, as I did against the previous one."
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The applicant has also pointed towards the authorities' commitment to providing a renewable energy supply for Pendle and their pledge to support any new energy sources arising in the future.
A planning statement added: "Every effort has been made in the design of the proposed scheme and there would be no harm to the surrounding area resulting from the proposed development.
"Therefore the application is acceptable in terms of its impact on the environment."
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