Final decision due on major village solar farm

A final decision is due on major solar farm plans capable of powering nearly10,000 homes.

Mid Suffolk District Council is due to discuss plans for a 35-hectare (86 acres) solar farm on farmland west of Blacksmiths Lane in Earl Stonham, near Stowmarket, on Wednesday.

Low Carbon Solar Park 27 Ltd submitted the plans in October 2023 and wants to build the farm to operate for 40 years.

Planning officers have recommended the plans for approval, subject to conditions, despite opposition from local residents and Earl Stonham Parish Council.

The plans include solar farm infrastructure like substations, inverters, CCTV and fencing, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The farm would have a 30 megawatt output which is enough energy to power 9,642 homes every year.

It could save as much as 216,000 tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime.

The proposals state that 69% of the solar farm would not sit on the best quality land.

Concerns raised over the plans include the loss of agricultural land, the farm's proximity to heritage assets, and the impacts on the rural landscape and amenity.

Planning officers said although the plans would cause long-term sustained impact on several heritage assets, the 40-year temporary nature of the solar farm meant harm could be reversed.

If the current proposals were backed by councillors, the farm would be connected to the grid via an existing electricity pole.

The company has said alternative sites would not be within a viable distance from the point of connection to the power grid.

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