Plans for 120-acre solar farm in Palgrave divide residents as decision due

Plans for a 120-acre solar farm near Diss have divided residents as a final decision is due.

Members of Mid Suffolk’s planning committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss Aura Power Developments Limited’s plans to build a 49.1-hectare solar farm, or just over 120 acres, on land north of Lion Road, in Palgrave, near Diss.

The solar farm, which would connect to the Diss substation, would be built alongside access tracks, string inverters, transformers, an electrical connection compound, storage containers, and underground cables and conduits.

According to council papers, close to 80 per cent of the panels would sit on good quality agricultural land for 35 years and be able to export 30 megawatts of energy, enough electricity to power 18,996 homes.

A statement submitted by the company said considerable care had been taken in the design of the development to avoid unacceptable environmental and amenity impacts.

It read: “The proposed development is an opportunity to deliver renewable energy generation at scale in an appropriate location in Mid Suffolk.

“Deploying more renewable, decentralised and smart energy systems, such as the one proposed in this planning application, is central to achieving climate change targets at an international, national and local level.”

The plans have split residents, however, with a range of representations being submitted, 23 of which were in favour.

One supporter said: “I support the planning application for Marsh Lane solar farm because in light of all the recent house building locally and global warming and climate change we need to address the issues of reliable energy.

“The process is easily reversible so that in the future the land can be returned to farming if needed.”

But others said the cumulative impact, particularly given the granting of permission for the adjacent Grange Farm solar development, would be too high.

Objections were received from Palgrave and Wortham and Burgate parish councils, as well as 16 residents.

One objector said the development was about much more than the green energy revolution.

They said: “This application for a further solar farm on land between Palgrave and Wortham is another assault on local people and the natural environment and should be refused for many reasons.

“It must be remembered that they are not doing this out of the goodness of their hearts — they stand to make millions of pounds in profits from covering this hugely productive farmland in silicon.”

When assessing the plans, Mid Suffolk planning officers conceded the plans had been mitigated as much as possible against significant heritage and landscape impacts, but harm still remained.

Despite this, they concluded the benefits of a solar farm of this size outweighed the harm and recommended the plans for approval subject to a list of obligations, conditions and informatives.

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