Herefordshire Council has refused planning permission for the proposed ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) farm at Land at Sinton’s End Farm, Acton Beauchamp. The decision was issued on 9 October 2025.

In reaching its decision, the Council concluded that the application failed to provide sufficient information to properly assess the development’s impact on landscape character and visual amenity. In particular, the scale and nature of the proposal were considered likely to cause significant harm to the character of the local valued landscape, and the applicant did not demonstrate that there would be no adverse effects on the setting of the Malvern Hills National Landscape. As a result, the proposal was found to be contrary to both local planning policies and national planning guidance.

The Council also identified serious deficiencies in the information submitted in relation to heritage assets, highway safety, and residential amenity. It was not demonstrated that the local highway network could safely accommodate construction and operational traffic, nor that safe access and manoeuvring arrangements could be achieved. In addition, the application did not adequately address potential impacts on nearby residents, including risks associated with glint and glare from solar panels affecting homes, roads, or aviation activity.

Further reasons for refusal related to flood risk and surface water management, agricultural land quality, and ecology and biodiversity. The application did not demonstrate that surface water runoff could be managed without increasing flood risk elsewhere, nor did it include a site-specific agricultural land classification to show that best and most versatile farmland would be avoided. The submitted ecological appraisal was also found to be incomplete, leaving the Council unable to conclude that protected species and biodiversity assets would be safeguarded or that a measurable biodiversity net gain would be achieved. Taken together, these shortcomings led the Council to determine that the proposal was unacceptable in planning terms and should be refused.

Click HERE to read the refusal