Campaigners left 'devastated' by Sunnica solar farm decision
The decision will affect villages on the Cambridgeshire-Suffolk border
Campaigners against plans to build a solar farm on the Cambridgeshire-Suffolk border are telling us villagers are worried for the future.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has given the green light for the 2,500-acre project, drawn up by Sunnica, after months of delays.
A decision on the plans, which could see one of Europe's biggest solar farms built, were due last month but delayed due to the General Election being called.
In a decision letter, it says new energy secretary Ed Miliband "considers that the benefits of the proposed development outweigh its adverse impacts".
Catherine Judkins chairs the Say No To Sunnica group:
"It doesn't make any sense and for a much shorter decision letter to say the benefits outweigh all of the harms, it doesn't seem to stack up," she said.
"It's a real question as to this scheme may even produce more carbon than it will ever saved, so in terms of net zero contribution, this scheme is flawed."
Concerns over the likes of food security, agriculture and size have previously been raised by Say No To Sunnica.
There's also been widespread opposition to the scheme from county and district councils, former MPs Lucy Frazer and Matt Hancock, and current Ely & East Cambridgeshire MP Charlotte Cane.
"We're all devastated; this scheme is so damaging, it's met with universal opposition and if you've got a scheme with that much opposition, there's clearly something wrong with it," Ms Judkins added.
"Our livelihoods here depend on agriculture and many other things so they're worried about themselves, future generations, our future farming industry, and the wildlife we cherish having on our doorstep."
In the Planning Inspectorate's decision letter, there is no right to appeal the decision but a judicial review, or legal challenge, could be launched.
Council leader 'heartbroken' by decision
In a statement, East Cambridgeshire District Council said it will be reviewing the Government's decision on how a decision was made.
Council leader, Cllr Anna Bailey, said: “We are heartbroken and extremely disappointed the new Secretary of State has seen fit to sideswipe the views of four councils and hundreds of local residents and businesses to agree to these proposals.
“This council is completely supportive of renewable energy; this has been demonstrated by our approval of renewable energy schemes on land outside of Burwell and Soham over the past few years.
“But it’s imperative such schemes are in the right place and are right for the communities in which they are located."
Cllr Bailey said the development "will span over 900 football pitches and there are no benefits whatsoever for local people arising from this development".
Councillor Lorna Dupre, chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s environment and green investment committee, said the decision is "deeply disappointing.
"While we understand the new Government’s drive towards clean energy, this decision has been greeted with dismay by all of us locally who have opposed this misguided development.
"We continue to be particularly concerned about the huge environmental and economic impact of this scheme. Separately, we also took up the issue of the developer’s lack of engagement with the community directly with the previous government.
“What is especially hard to swallow, is the fact that the Government’s own planning inspectors recognised the blight on the local area – in terms of the visual impact, the effects on cultural heritage and the harm to the local economy.
“We support responsible renewable energy creation and this Government’s drive to make the UK a superpower in clean energy but we take issue with the unprecedented scale of Sunnica’s ambitions, as well as their approach which led to a breakdown of trust and cooperation between the company and the eleven affected parish councils."
Community bond with Sunnica 'very confrontational'
Peter Bates is from the East Cambs Climate Action Network, which supports solar energy projects but has raised concerns over Sunnica's approach to the plans.
"It should be very much focused around encouraging the local community to engage with the company (Sunnica) and the company to engage with the local community," he said.
"We had the local community in arms about the project and it became very confrontational; that's not the way in which renewable projects like this should be developed.
"I think future projects like these ought to say (for example), 'we want to build a wind turbine in your area, if you help us find the best solution, we're going to provide you with incentives like reducing your energy bills'."
What are Sunnica's plans?
Sunnica want to build the solar farm across three different sites.
The plans include building solar photovoltaic panels across several fields and each site would be connected to each other by underground cables that link to the National Grid at Burwell substation.
Sunnica Limited says the project will power 172,000 homes and create 1,500 jobs during construction.
A spokesperson for Sunnica said it is "immensely pleased with the Government's decision.
"Sunnica would make a nationally significant contribution towards the UK’s legal obligation to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and its ongoing energy security," they said.
"This important milestone and the decision by the Secretary of State has come after many months of intense scrutiny and robust engagement with the planning process, and wider public consultations.
"We will now move forward towards the implementation phase, ultimately allowing us to create clean renewable energy for the UK, and look forward to meeting with local authorities and the wider community to plan the next steps."