DOVER: Solar farm could cause ‘serious harm’ to ancient Roman site
Hundreds of people are battling plans for a solar farm in Richborough
Hundreds of people are battling plans for a solar farm amid fears it could cause “serious harm” to one of Britain’s most important Roman sites.
TV historian Mary Beard is among those who have highlighted the controversial proposals for Richborough, near Sandwich.
The classicist shared a link to the planning application on social media site X and wrote: “If you are interested in the Roman site at Richborough, you should take a look at this".
It resulted in dozens more objections being lodged against the bid for the vast solar panel array, taking the total opposed to more than 550.
Also among those concerned is Kent County Council archaeology officer Ben Found.
He warns that the plans could cause “serious” harm to the ancient Richborough Roman Fort – only 160 metres from the development site at its closest point.
It is not yet known when DDC’s planning committee will decide on the development, but an internal deadline of March 22 has been set.
Richborough once hosted a huge Roman fort, town and amphitheatre, and was the first permanent Roman settlement in Britain after the invasion by Emperor Claudian in 43 AD.
Today the wall of the fortress and the remains of earthworks and the amphitheatre remain visible.
Plans were first put forward for the site just off East Street, near Ash and Sandwich, in November 2023.
Statkraft – Europe’s biggest clean energy company – are behind the bid, dubbed Little South Solar Farm.
In planning documents, the firm argues: “The development would contribute to local and national ‘Net Zero’ targets with an export capacity of up to 49.9 Megawatts (MW) of renewable energy.”
Any solar farm producing 50 megawatts or more needs development consent from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
'Probably the most important single Roman site in Britain'
Dr Tony Redding, military historian, author and local amateur archeologist, describes the fort as “probably the most important single Roman site in Britain, so it’s got national and international importance”.
"The site is waterlogged and it probably contains archaeological remains in a very high state of preservation, so if this thing goes ahead it’s basically going to drain this marshy area and destroy the deposits".
He argues that the solar farm “will destroy the setting of the ancient monument”.
In 2043 it will be the 2,000th anniversary of the Roman invasion.