The large-scale renewable energy scheme at Haswell Plough was rejected by Durham County Council's planning committee in July 2025 following strong opposition from residents and local politicians. But the Government’s Planning Inspectorate has now allowed an appeal by Hare Hill Solar Ltd, concluding that while the development would cause "moderate harm" to the local landscape, its renewable energy benefits outweighed that harm. The scheme will see a 62.7-hectare solar farm, battery energy storage system (BESS) and associated infrastructure installed for a temporary period of 40 years. Hare Hill Solar said the development would generate enough clean electricity to power about 17,600 homes while contributing towards renewable energy targets. But additional landscape assessments submitted by Hare Hill Solar concluded any remaining landscape harm would be "modest and localised" and that visual effects would be adequately mitigated.