Council fears pace of decision for large solar farm in north Suffolk

• Unprecedented pace of planning application
• Inappropriate proposal which could take out quality farmland
• Serious concerns for welfare of local communities

The 250-megawatt solar farm and battery energy storage system will be spread out over 1,500 acres at multiple sites around Yaxley, Brome, Gislingham, Mellis, Eye, Thrandeston and Occold.

EcoPower is proposing the bare minimum of engagement and is likely to submit its application to the Planning Inspectorate in around 12 months from now.

This means, unusually, that residents will have just two opportunities in the coming months to have their say. The first of these two is a non-statutory consultation, launched on 10 March. A statutory consultation will follow.

The council fears that communities won’t have enough time to familiarise themselves with the planning process, understand the potential impacts of the project, do their research, and make their points – unfortunately, it is not enough to simply state opposition to the project in a consultation response.

Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Devolution, Local Government Reform and NSIPs, said:

“The speed at which this proposal is moving is frightening for us as statutory consultees, as well as for local communities. It could also set a worrying precedent for future NSIP projects.

“As an example, the Sunnica solar farm, which was opposed by Suffolk County Council, took around six years from being launched, to being approved. The EcoPower project could be wrapped in as little as two years.

“This hurried process adds pressure on the county council, as well as communities, as it will require significant additional resources and staff to manage - on top of the other energy projects and NSIPs that we are already dealing with.

“This breakneck speed is no doubt influenced by the government’s unrealistic obsession to decarbonise our electricity supply by 2030. They must slow down to allow for proper planning, coordination of energy projects, and fair treatment of communities.”

The county council is formally opposed solar farm proposals that remove the top grades of agricultural land¹.

Independently conducted assessments will be required to provide reassurance that Suffolk’s best farmland will not be used, and put food security at risk.

The council also has a preference for rooftop-before-rural solar development and expects that solar developers should rule out any links to forced labour in their supply chains.

There are also serious concerns for the welfare of those in the communities affected by the proposed scheme. Such projects can change ways of life forever for those living near the proposed sites.

Councillors have seen first-hand, the stress and worry brought by the sudden announcement of a huge infrastructure projects. This is something that should not be underestimated, and should be recognised by a project promoter.

Cllr Rout continues:

“We will do what we can to support communities through the planning process, and we are currently writing to parish and town councils.

“However from my early meetings with EcoPower, I am concerned that they are not taking seriously the very real mental wellbeing impacts of their proposal.

“Local residents are foremost in my thoughts, and I have already met with some who have seen a real impact on house prices and sales in the area. This takes a huge toll on individuals and families, and EcoPower has a duty of care to our communities and needs to step up in this regard.

“It is a real concern that the Secretary of State will just wave through this project, as he did with Sunnica, despite the Planning Inspectorate’s recommendation not to proceed. But local communities must engage with the process and make their concerns known.

“I urge people to act quickly, and contribute fully and effectively to the consultation, before it closes on 18 April.”

Suffolk County Council has created a number of online resources to support communities who are facing planning proposals for these nationally significant infrastructure projects. These are available at www.suffolk.gov.uk

The EcoPower Suffolk consultation is available at www.ecopowersuffolk.com