Appeal Amendment Consultation

Trerice Solar Farm Ltd is appealing Cornwall Council’s refusal of our planning application for a new solar farm and battery storage site near Trerice, St Dennis. Although Council planning officers recommended that members approve our application, the application was refused by the authority’s Strategic Planning Committee in July 2025.

As part of the appeal, we are running a consultation on a small number of proposed improvements to the scheme submitted as part of our appeal. This is an opportunity for local residents and statutory consultees to review the minor amendments proposed and to share feedback (see details at the bottom of this page) before the Planning Inspector makes a decision.

 

Appeal amendment documents

We are proposing minor amendments to enhance our application for the solar farm. The following documents show how we are proposing to add extra hedgerows on either side of a public footpath east of the site, and where we would extend a permissive footpath in the central part of the site.

Landscape and Ecology Management Plan Sheet 1 of 2

Detailed Planting Plan Sheet 1 of 2

An updated Planting Schedule has also been prepared to reflect the amendments:

Planting Schedule  

This document provides a summary of the amendments we are proposing. 

Trerice Solar Farm – Amended Appeal Scheme Summary.

These amended documents, and all other documents relating to our existing application and appeal, are available on Cornwall Council’s Planning Portal (Ref: PA24/09234).

 

What has changed?

We are proposing two minor amendments to enhance planting and boost local ecology, and to improve the connectivity and general user experience of footpaths around our site. These proposed changes are shown below:

1. New hedgerow planting

We are proposing to add extra hedgerows on either side of the public footpath (in field D) east of the site, indicated by the parallel green lines in the right hand map.

This would:

  • Provide additional boundary planting, improving screening of the solar panels from local footpaths
  • Strengthen and improve protection of local wildlife habitats on and around our site
  • Enhance the walking experience on the existing footpath

2. Better footpath connections

We are proposing to extend a permissive footpath in the central part of the site along the north of Field G and I, as indicated by the purple dashed line in the right hand map.

This would:

  • Create a circular walking route by linking to the planned permissive path in our existing application, north of Field I.

These minor changes would not alter the overall layout or scale of the project but improve the landscape and local access.

In summary, this would mean that:

  • Additional permissive paths for local walkers improve local connectivity
  • Existing Public Rights of Way and would remain unaffected
  • Planting would add ecological value and improve the experience along existing footpaths near our site, over time

What the updated scheme would deliver?

If the appeal is approved, the solar farm would provide:

Clean energy and storage

  • Enough renewable energy to power the equivalent needs of over 10,000 homes every year, a significant contribution to both local and national targets.
  • A battery storage system to store solar energy and support a more reliable electricity network
  • A 40‑year operational period, after which the land would be restored to its current use

Energy Security

  • A source of renewable energy comprising secure, distributed and diversified energy generation which fully accords with the Government policy on energy security.

Biodiversity Net Gain

  • An on-site BNG of ~24% for habitat units,~11% for hedgerow units, ~26% for watercourse units.

Improved connectivity

  • Over 1.4 km of permissive footpaths linking to the existing PRoW network.

Economic Benefits

  • Economic benefits to the local economy during the construction period including from the temporary jobs created (both direct jobs on-site and indirect/induced roles in the wider economy) and where possible using local suppliers.
  • An estimated £1.6 million (in 2025 terms) of business rates to Cornwall Council over the project’s 40 year lifetime.
  • A community benefit fund for projects that help accelerate the aims of local communities to make a positive difference estimated to be worth over £400,000 across the operational lifetime of the project.

Have your say

We invite parties to share their views on the minor amendments as part of this consultation.

All comments received will be forwarded on to the Planning Inspectorate and also the council prior to the opening of the Appeal Hearing. They will then be considered by the appointed Inspector alongside all other consultation responses that have already been received on this appeal. All comments submitted will be in the public domain and may be referred to during the appeal.

To participate in the consultation, you can submit your comments by: 

  • Emailing us at: trerice@pegasusgroup.co.uk  
  • Or by post to: Trerice Solar Farm, C/O Pegasus Group, 33 Sheep Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1RQ.

All correspondence should contain the reference: ‘PA24/09234 Trerice Solar Farm Appeal Consultation Response’