Council Seeks to Oppose Two Major Solar Farm Projects
Suffolk County Council has come out against two large solar farm proposals in the north of the county.
The first, from EcoPower, is a 250-megawatt scheme with battery storage covering 1,500 acres across several sites spread over Occold, Eye, Brome and Oakley, Stuston, Thrandeston, Mellis, Burgate, Thornham Parva, Gislingham and Yaxley. The council has lodged a formal objection and published a report setting out its concerns, including the loss of farmland and wildlife habitats, and has asked EcoPower to publish its own report before the statutory consultation, which the developer expects to hold in the autumn.
The second, about five miles further south at White Elm, is a 675-acre solar farm proposed by Elmya RPC UK covering Mendlesham, Wickham Skeith and Thwaite parishes. A non-statutory consultation on it runs from 19 May to 30 June.
Because both schemes are classed as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, the final decision in each case lies with the Government rather than the council.
Cllr Richard Rout, whose cabinet brief covers NSIPs as well as devolution and local government reform, said the EcoPower plan would test how well developers engage with communities, and criticised it for relying on the minimum consultation required. He said EcoPower could choose to go further in working with local bodies, and that the council would continue to oppose any scheme taking Suffolk's best farmland out of food production.
On White Elm, he said he expected many residents to feel weary at yet another fast-moving application. He urged people to take part in the consultation, both by objecting with clear reasons and by suggesting improvements in case the scheme is approved. He also criticised the common practice of promoters holding only two consultations, which he said allows projects to move through the system as quickly as possible at the expense of local communities.
