Giant solar project plans blocked by government

Plans for a solar farm the size of 179 football pitches have been blocked by the government.

According to Local Democracy Reporting Service, Enso Energy submitted proposals for two joined sites between Watford and Borehamwood in Hertfordshire.

Planning Minister Lee Rowley, on behalf of Levelling Up secretary Michael Gove, ruled “very special circumstances do not exist” to justify the project in the green belt on the edge of London.

He added that it could also harm the landscape, including nearby Hilfield Castle which dates to the late 1700s.

Enso Energy asked for permission to build solar panels, battery storage and underground cables – enough to contribute 49.9 megawatts to the National Grid. The firm has said this would meet the electricity needs of 15,600 family homes.

The plans spanned two sites between the M1 and A41, near Elstree Aerodrome, and the A5183 Watling Street, near Radlett.

While the letter from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (Dluhc) highlighted the importance of green energy, it said the development did not outweigh potential harm to the area.

The document said: “The secretary of state considers substantial weight should be applied to collective green belt harm, including inappropriate development, harm to both spatial and visual openness and harm to green belt purposes.”

It added that Mr Gove found “the impacts of the proposal are not acceptable”.

Hertsmere Borough Council had previously looked at the application and refused planning permission in 2021, over fears it would harm the green belt and nearby heritage sites.

The authority is yet to rule on a similar application in its system, for a similar-sized solar and battery storage project on the same site.

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