CORNWALL Council’s strategic planning committee has granted permission for a solar PV array on land at Lower Tregeen Farm, Davidstow.

The planning officer at the meeting on February 11 said the applicant has an agreement from Western Power Distribution to connect to the grid, after one councillor raised concerns about grid capacity.

The application received support from Davidstow Parish Council.

The land is classed as grade four agricultural, and documents presented to the council stated the use of the land and the areas beneath the panels would continue to be managed through the grazing of sheep.

In supporting the application for the 5MW solar PV array, together with associated infrastructure and formation of temporary access track to serve the development, Cllr Mark Kaczmarek said: “These are farmers putting in these applications and we do have to understand that farming is going through a really difficult time at the moment.

“Anything we can do to support a farming community, we need to do it.”

Councillors voted 16-0, with no abstentions, in favour.