Chichester councillors are being urged to stand by their decision to refuse plans for a solar farm in Runcton.
The saga of Lime Kiln Barn has been going back and forth since 2024. An application to place rows of solar panels on two parcels of land in Runcton Lane, was rejected by the council in May 2025.
The refusal was then overturned by the Planning Inspectorate – before that decision was challenged and subsequently quashed in March. As such, a new appeal must be determined afresh.
But it could be a short fight. During a meeting of the planning committee on Wednesday (October 7), officers will recommend that the council does not defend its refusal of the application.
A report to the committee stated: “Officers consider that the council’s prospects of successfully defending the original reasons for refusal at the re-determined appeal are limited and have weakened since the previous hearing.
“There is a very high likelihood of the appeal being allowed, and to continue to defend the original reasons for refusal could therefore expose the council to an application for costs, on the grounds that it has behaved unreasonably.”
But campaigners have urged the committee to stand by its original decision ‘rather than walk away from it’ before the appeal is heard in February 2027.
A statement from SMART-FFF (South Mundham and Runcton Trustees – Fields For Food) – a group of residents concerned about development on prime farming land and in the Wildlife Corridor – said the reasons for the refusal ‘remain valid’, particularly the concerns about the loss of productive Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land and harm to the landscape and rural character.
The group stated: “In August, the Government announced £65m of extra support for farmers affected by drought, including £15m for on-farm reservoirs. If permitted, about 90 acres with underground irrigation from a reservoir and the Rife, supporting food production with associated local employment, would be removed for 40 years.
“Productive farmland and water infrastructure matter.”
Pointing to ‘significant landscape harm’ and the site’s position within a Strategic Wildlife Corridor, the group said their concerns were ‘substantive planning considerations, rather than simply community objections’.
To view the original application and appeal documents, log on to publicaccess.chichester.gov.uk and search for 24/01859/FUL.
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