Plans for Perthshire solar farm the size of 140 football pitches refused

Perth and Kinross Council felt the "excessive" scale had not been fully justified for such a "significant" loss of prime agricultural land
A planning application for a massive 49.9 MW Perthshire solar farm - the size of around 140 football pitches - has been unanimously refused by Perth and Kinross councillors.
Perth and Kinross Council's (PKC) Planning and Placemaking Committee met to consider the application - submitted by Solar 2 Ltd - on Wednesday, June 11.
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Elected members upheld the reasons recommended for refusal by council planners that it would result in a "significant" loss of prime agricultural land and its "excessive" scale had not been fully justified.
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Atmos Consulting submitted plans to PKC, on behalf of Solar 2, to develop Collace Solar Farm on around 100 hectares of land 500m north west of East Saucher House, Kinrossie.
Presenting officers' report of handling on the application to councillors, PKC's Major Applications and Enforcement team leader Sean Panton said: "Unfortunately we are recommending refusal of the application before you.
"Whilst National Planning Framework 4 and the Perth and Kinross Local Development Plan 2 offers support for renewable energy proposals, on this occasion the loss of prime agricultural land at this scale is not considered to have been suitably justified."
He added: "The site is located approximately one kilometre north of the Sidlaw Hills Special Landscape Area and is also in close proximity to a number of historical assets including a number of listed buildings and the Kinrossie Conservation Area.
"There are 82,000 solar panels proposed."
Mr Panton said Solar 2 was questioned as to why "so many solar panels were required when this amount of panels would exceed a 49.9MW output".
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He told councillors: "The response was that it was commonplace to overplant solar farms. Consequently, we're of the view that 82,000 panels is an overprovision and this number of panels could be reduced obtaining the same output but with less prime agricultural land intake."
The solar panels would reach a maximum height of just over three metres above ground level, as they tilt. They would be supported by an aluminium frame mounted vertically into the ground to a depth of around two metres with the edge of the solar arrays varying in height above the ground but with a minimum clearance of about one metre. The panels would rotate vertically towards the sun from about 60 degrees below the horizontal when the sun is at its lowest to horizontal when the sun is at its highest.
As well as the solar panels, the proposal included plans for inverters, a substation, a substation compound, two containers, fencing, CCTV and access tracks.
There were 89 letters of objection and four letters of support for the proposal.
Objector Ian Thoms was born and raised in the area and has spent the past 11 years back there with his wife.
He said the proposal was "poorly sited" and there were "better alternatives near where the energy is actually required".
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Mr Thoms cited a change.org petition - with over 300 signatures - launched by Collace Solar Objection Group. The group is calling for Perth and Kinross Council to "protect rural Perthshire" and "pause all solar development approvals until a robust, location-sensitive, and proportionate planning framework is in place—one that prioritises rooftop and brownfield solar, protects agricultural land, and mandates solar recycling measures".
He told councillors: "Walking along the core paths near our home, I often meet neighbours and strangers out enjoying the landscape. People come here for the peace, the view of the hills and the living countryside.
"This would all be fundamentally altered by an industrial-scale solar installation with at least 40 years of high fencing, CCTV and metal infrastructure blighting the countryside.
"The development would directly dominate the outlook from our homes, core paths and adjacent roads turning a living, working landscape into an industrial one."
He added: "This project is one of 11 similar proposals in the Strathmore area alone. We need a more coherent, balanced approach."
Fellow objector Jonathan Simpson said: "Scotland has over 9000 hectares of vacant and derelict land, yet this developer proposes to industrialise actively farmed prime land.
"Before turning to ground-mounted panels, we should prioritise solar on rooftops, brownfield sites and existing industrial infrastructure followed by poor quality soils."
Solar 2 project manager John Moisey argued it was a "temporary condition" and the land could continue to be used for "grazing beneath the panels".
The report of handling stated it was anticipated the solar farm would operate for up to 40 years then all infrastructure would be removed and the site reinstated to its former condition.
Mr Moisey said the 40-year set-aside could potentially "enhance" the soil by allowing it to "rest and regenerate" through a reduction in ploughing and ground disturbance.
He told councillors the energy generated would meet the energy demand of "over 11,000 homes" and be fed directly back into the local grid via a distribution connection at Coupar Angus.
Independent councillor Dave Cuthbert moved for refusal. It was seconded by Conservative councillor Keith Allan.
The proposal was unanimously refused.

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