Solar farm to power 10,500 homes gets go-ahead

The 41.7-hectare (103-acre) solar farm would take up 15% of farmland, the council meeting heard

A solar farm plan which attracted strong local opposition has been approved following a three-hour discussion between councillors, campaigners and a landowner.

The facility earmarked for agricultural land north of Gray's Lane in Wissett, near Halesworth, received 238 negative responses from the public and formal objections from nearby parish councils.

On Tuesday, the application by Pathfinder Clean Energy (PACE) ULDev Limited - which had been recommended by planning officers - was approved by East Suffolk Council.

The solar farm will cover 41.7 hectares (103 acres) and have the capacity for 27 megawatts, producing enough energy to power 10,518 homes in East Suffolk.

Concerns raised during the planning process included food security, location, landscape and visual harm, heritage impacts and a lack of water supply.

Planning officers had recognised the issues but said these were outweighed by the social and economic benefits of the scheme.

Farmer Ben Hadingham said the proposals would provide a long-term income stream while meeting national energy goals.

He explained changes in the market and climatic conditions had resulted in a significant loss in his farm and confirmed he would still use the area to farm sheep.

"We have farmed in the area for over 100 years, so you understand that our local environment is and will always be important to us," he added.

"Farming has been through significant changes in recent years - to be sustainable, our business needs to be viable."

Councillors heard the solar farm would take up 15% of agricultural land in an area chosen for its low yields, and any alternative brownfield sites were not big enough or close enough to a grid connection.