Date set for the Benridge Solar Farm planning application

I received notification yesterday afternoon that the Benridge Solar Farm planning application will be put before the council's Countywide Planning Committee next week for a decision:

Application Ref: DM/25/01964/FPA 

Site Address: Land To The East, South And West Of Benridge Farm, Fillpoke Lane Blackhall Rocks TS27 4BT 

Proposal: Installation of a solar farm together with all associated works, equipment and necessary infrastructure including battery storage. 

The above application which relates to a proposal within your Electoral Division is to be reported to the County Planning Committee on 29 July 2026 in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Durham, DH1 5UL at 1pm.

The full committee report can be found in this link: DM-25-01964-FPA Benridge Farm Solar Farm 

Although the planning case officer has recommended that the application should be approved it should be noted that this is just a recommendation and does not represent a decision. A decision on whether the proposal should be approved or rejected will be made by members of the planning committee next week. 

Alongside a local residents group and the local Parish Council I have opposed this development from day one, and my written objections have been submitted to the county council for the attention of planning committee members. Given the quality of the objections raised by the local community I'm confident that, despite the case officer's recommendation, planning committee members will be sufficiently convinced by the evidence to refuse this application.

Details of the local campaign can be found here: Residents' campaign to oppose Benridge Solar Farm

My letter of objection can be found in this link: Formal objections to the Benridge Solar Farm planning application