Fury at 'catastrophic' plans for 340-acre solar farm in Warwickshire

[dutchman]

There's widespread opposition to a huge plot of solar panels - equal to 200 football pitches - near Honiley in Warwickshire



Campaigners have vowed not to rest until proposals for a massive farm of three-metre high solar panels, the size of Kenilworth town centre, are scrapped.

Ahead of today's deadline for submissions, more than 100 people have written forceful complaints to Warwick District Council about the project, which could take seven months to build and be in place for 40 years.

They say the 340-acre site, which runs right through the village of Honiley and is also close to Haseley Knob and Beausale, will destroy natural habitats for wildlife, ruin an area hugely popular with cyclists and walkers and cause untold amounts of noise and light pollution.

The size of 200 football pitches, the massive plot also borders many Grade I and Grade II-listed buildings such as the Church of St John the Baptist, at Honiley, which dates back to 1723 and was designed by famous architect Sir Christopher Wren.

"During the pandemic, especially, this area has been the lungs for many walkers and cyclists," campaigner Sue Gallagher, a former district councillor for the area, said.

"It's not just the panels that are the problem, although they are three metres high and will be visible from all the country lanes that border the proposed farm.

"It's the CCTV cameras that will be erected, the two-metre tall security fences and lighting, huge shipping containers - and there will be a lot of noise.

"All in a peaceful area of countryside which is thriving with wildlife.

"There will be a huge impact on the deer, foxes, badgers, hedgehogs and small mammals which have natural habitats there."

"Our key argument is that it will have a catastrophic impact on the wellness of the green belt," added Richard Holdgate, a member of the Friends of the Green Belt campaign group, alongside Sue.

"This is 100 per cent green belt land. It's prime agricultural land and madness to think it should be built here.

"This is the biggest type of project that can be passed under the Town and Country Planning Act and they're shoehorning it into any site they think might be available.

"They should have identified a site that could take that capacity. They've done it the wrong way around.

"This is not nimbyism or the principle of 'not in my backyard'. It's purely about the site being unsuitable."

The farm would reportedly create 49.9megaWatts of energy at peak production - equivalent to the needs of more than 15,000 houses - for use across the nation.

It's thought that level of energy production would save upwards of 25,000 tonnes of carbon emissions compared to burning oil or coal.

Richard, a 46-year-old project manager, said the campaign group was wholly in favour of solar panels and renewable energy.

But this site was, he said, inappropriate and he claimed that it was selected following a negligible period of public consultation.

The fields proposed to make up the farm would be leased to Enso Energy, the developer, by the landowners for a 'temporary' period of 40 years, in a move branded "farcical' by those in opposition.

Under the plans, farmers would be encouraged to continue to use the fields to graze sheep.

"I'm a farmer's daughter," added Sue, a home economics teacher at Northleigh House School.

"I've not met a farmer who would allow their sheep to graze in fields filled with solar panels.

"They've said they will plant lots of pretty wild flowers, but the panels will be so tall you won't be able to see anything else.

"We're not against solar panels. In my world, solar panels would be fitted on every new-build, factories, council buildings; not on green belt land."

Warwick District Council will gather in the objections before transferring the matter to its planning committee early next year.

A spokesperson said the authority did not comment on planning applications before they have been heard by the committee.

If approved, construction would likely start in 2024 with a completion date set for 2025.

[rebbonk]

I can't help but feel there's a little bit of 'nimbyism' going on here.

[dutchman]

Lea Marston: Solar panels plan agreed despite green belt fears



Thousands of solar panels are set to be built on green belt land, despite officials labelling it an "inappropriate development".

The government put forward the plans for the site in Lea Marston, Warwickshire, near Coleshill, as the land is used by the Environment Agency.

Councillors heard while the 6,292 panels would go on green belt land, there would be limited harm, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The proposals have been approved.

Planning officer Jeff Brown told the North Warwickshire Borough Council meeting "this is inappropriate development in the green belt", but added the benefits outweighed the harms.

The plan for the panels would be part of a wider masterplan for the Lea Marston depot, Luke Coffey, from the Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs, told councillors.

He said they would go on an area previously used for landfill after nearby lakes were drilled.

The development is expected to generate up to 3MW of electricity and operate for 25 years.