An appeal has been lodged after plans to construct an "ugly" solar farm in the countryside were comprehensively rejected.
In November last year, Hertsmere Borough Council turned down a proposal for thousands of solar panels on green belt land between Radlett and Elstree.
The scheme drew more than 1,400 objections which was the most in Hertsmere's history. Prominent campaigner Sharon Woolf described it as a "beast of a scheme" and said it was "ugly" and better suited by a motorway.
Councillors concluded the solar farm represented "inappropriate development within the green belt" and felt there weren't any "very special circumstances" that would allow the land to be used for the proposed purpose.
Members also mentioned the solar farm, which would be dismantled after 35 years, would not necessarily benefit residents in Hertsmere. The privately owned land on the Aldenham Estate had been selected because of its proximity to the Hilfield National Grid substation.
Just shy of six months on from that meeting, applicant Enso Energy has submitted an appeal in a bid to overturn the council's refusal.
A document on the Government planning inspectorate website shows a case was officially opened on May 3 and comments are being invited by June 7 from interested parties.
The appeal, which is in its earliest stages publicly, is likely to take a few months with an inquiry scheduled for September. A final decision date has not yet been set.
Enso Energy's head of development Simon Wheeler failed to rule out an appeal when he was asked about the council's decision.
Speaking in November, he said: "It is undoubtedly disappointing that our application for a solar farm, recommended for approval by Hertsmere Borough Council officers, was refused planning consent. This was a planning balance decision, which was decided after a debate that lacked proper consideration of the benefits that the project would deliver.
"The decision will no doubt also come as a disappointment to those that can’t yet enjoy the benefits of the application; the 15,600 homes that would be powered by renewable electricity or those that wanted to see the significant improvements in biodiversity the application would have delivered.
"We remain convinced of the benefits this proposal would provide to the people of Hertsmere and the country, and are currently considering our options."
The appeal can be found on the planning inspectorate website via case number 3295268.
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