Major solar farm for Suffolk deemed ‘totally inappropriate’ as bid rejected
One person argued the historical setting of the site made the plans ‘totally inappropriate’
Plans to build a major solar farm in Suffolk have been deemed ‘totally inappropriate’ by councillors.
Yesterday, Green Switch Capital’s bid for a solar farm on land between Potash Lane and Church Road, in Bentley, near Ipswich, was up for debate by members of Babergh’s planning committee.
The solar farm, with up to 40 megawatts of export capacity, would be built on 48.30 hectares alongside ancillary infrastructure and cabling, two substations, and new vehicular accesses.
Despite receiving 13 letters of support, the authority received overwhelming pushback, with objections submitted by 175 residents as well as Bentley, Capel St Mary, and Tattingstone parish councils.
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Michael Bamford, of Bentley PC, shared many of the concerns, including fears the solar panels would ‘industrialise’ the landscape and leave ‘lasting damage’.
Thomas Hill, an objector, said the plans had brought anxiety to residents and stressed best quality land, landscape, and heritage assets should not be sacrificed to build a solar farm.
The solar farm would be mostly located on land of the best quality for agriculture.
Assessing the application, officers backed concerns with a recommendation for refusal on the grounds of significant landscape and heritage harm.
Despite the opposition, Tom Roseblade, the agent, said the company disputed the impacts on the landscape and stressed the benefits of the solar farm.
He stressed these benefits outweighed the potential harm and suggested the plans could still be approved by the planning inspector even if they were refused by the district council.
Cllr David Busby, the Bentley ward member, argued the historical setting of the site made the plans ‘totally inappropriate’.
He added: “Much of the historical assets around it go back to the medieval times, this has remained unchanged for that kind of period, it’s very unique in that.
“It is an area that deserves conserving, you don’t get this kind of landscape and heritage anywhere else, it’s unique.”
“There are hundreds of other sites potentially coming forward, we do not need this one.”
Councillors agreed to follow the officer’s recommendation and refused the plans unanimously.