Plans for solar panels in the have been given the go-ahead amid concerns villagers have been ignored over their fears they will “blight” the rural landscape. Michael Lee has been granted permission from Cotswold District Council to install the 32 solar panel array at The Green Cottage at The Crescent in Maugersbury near Stow-on-the-Wold. The proposal was referred to the planning and licensing committee at the request of Dilys Neill (LD, Stow) who said she supported the scheme as the council has declared a climate change emergency.
But she wanted it to be considered by councillors due to the proposals’ impact on the Cotswold National Landscape and the setting of the Half Moon House, a grade II-listed house. Maugersbury Parish Council had objected to the scheme because they said it would be visible from the wider and from public footpath that runs down the side of the site. “Not only will this be a blight on an important rural view of Maugersbury village, it will also impact on the setting of the listed Half Moon House that is directly behind the site.
“Council supports the Conversation Officer’s point that trees and hedges can be lost or removed and therefore should not be relied on to make a development proposal acceptable.” Planning officers recommended approving the scheme and they say the harm to nearby listed buildings and the Cotswold landscape can be mitigated by extra planting on the site. Wei Yang, the owner of Half Moon House, spoke at the meeting on Au.