The Shock of the New: Contemporary Homes and Solar Farms
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I bet that the majority of folk who stop in front of our new house* aren't wondering how many architectural awards it might win. I bet they're wondering why someone in planning didn't stop it being built, because they think it's gopping. Each to his own; we (obviously) think it looks great. There are a couple of morals to this story, however.
First off, it should strike the gawpers that they should be that someone in the planning process trying to ensure we carry on replicating 19th century houses. The Parish Council had two planning meetings to discuss the house, the first attended by one person (me) and the second by three.
Secondly, "the country" is an environment where people live. The more prosperous it is, the better those people will be able to look after it. "The country" isn't the exclusive preserve of retirees from the suburbs or second homers, who would, typically, like to live in an Austenesque idyll (or Poundbury!). It has to move on. I'm absolutely not saying we should rip up the restrictions on development that we have in place and go all utilitarian. Our house is not only wonderful to live in but costs nothing to run. We generate more electricity than we use and heat it and cook with wood. This doesn't mean it should automatically get planning permission. I am saying that when the CPRE objects to faster rural broadband on the basis of disfiguring "new overhead lines and broadband cabinets blotting our finest landscapes and villages" I get cross.
The explosion of solar farms that's happening across our landscape at the moment is another case in point. The combination of government incentives and cheap photo voltaic panels means there will be thousands of acres of them put in over the next two years. There will be some appalling cases, but I hope the planning process will generally be robust enough to stop development where it is damaging or unsightly (if the gawpers get themselves along to the right meetings). In contrast to wind farms, solar farms can also offer a brilliant opportunity to create attractive and valuable new habitat.
We are working with Solar Century and - I hope - another large scale developer, who are determined to do just that. They are putting in wildflower meadow areas and new native hedges on a large scale, and going the extra mile to make sure they are establishing the right plant species and that they will be managed sensitively. We've hooked Solar Century up with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, who will be helping them out.
*which is, frankly, getting a bit weird. Also, when I greet gawpers with a friendly hello I feel a bit miffed when they drive off at speed.
I bet that the majority of folk who stop in front of our new house* aren't wondering how many architectural awards it might win. I bet they're wondering why someone in planning didn't stop it being built, because they think it's gopping. Each to his own; we (obviously) think it looks great. There are a couple of morals to this story, however.
First off, it should strike the gawpers that they should be that someone in the planning process trying to ensure we carry on replicating 19th century houses. The Parish Council had two planning meetings to discuss the house, the first attended by one person (me) and the second by three.
Secondly, "the country" is an environment where people live. The more prosperous it is, the better those people will be able to look after it. "The country" isn't the exclusive preserve of retirees from the suburbs or second homers, who would, typically, like to live in an Austenesque idyll (or Poundbury!). It has to move on. I'm absolutely not saying we should rip up the restrictions on development that we have in place and go all utilitarian. Our house is not only wonderful to live in but costs nothing to run. We generate more electricity than we use and heat it and cook with wood. This doesn't mean it should automatically get planning permission. I am saying that when the CPRE objects to faster rural broadband on the basis of disfiguring "new overhead lines and broadband cabinets blotting our finest landscapes and villages" I get cross.
The explosion of solar farms that's happening across our landscape at the moment is another case in point. The combination of government incentives and cheap photo voltaic panels means there will be thousands of acres of them put in over the next two years. There will be some appalling cases, but I hope the planning process will generally be robust enough to stop development where it is damaging or unsightly (if the gawpers get themselves along to the right meetings). In contrast to wind farms, solar farms can also offer a brilliant opportunity to create attractive and valuable new habitat.
We are working with Solar Century and - I hope - another large scale developer, who are determined to do just that. They are putting in wildflower meadow areas and new native hedges on a large scale, and going the extra mile to make sure they are establishing the right plant species and that they will be managed sensitively. We've hooked Solar Century up with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, who will be helping them out.
*which is, frankly, getting a bit weird. Also, when I greet gawpers with a friendly hello I feel a bit miffed when they drive off at speed.