Developer addresses public worries about a proposed solar farm near Sudbury. Share your thoughts by March 6th.
The Braggons Hill solar farm aims to make power for homes. It could power about 8,900 homes each year, and this would last for around 40 years. The project hit a snag because of public worries. People sent in 240 objections back in 2023.
People mainly questioned the location of the solar farm. They worried about impacts on the environment and food production. A company, RES, shared new documents to address these concerns. They changed the design based on local feedback to reduce visibility.
The company also created a landscape plan, which includes planting new greenery. This should help boost local wildlife. RES said the site was picked because it avoids sensitive areas and the site connects to an existing power line.
This connection minimizes the need for new structures and limits environmental impact and disruption. RES designed the farm to blend into the landscape. They also hope to maximize green energy production. Community input shaped the final design.
Changes include removing parts to decrease how much you see of the farm. They added woodland and expanded distances from nearby woods. The land could still be used for farming like raising sheep. The solar farm could also boost local biodiversity. It could increase habitats by 99% and hedgerows by 48%.
Some remain concerned about using good farmland. They worry about losing land that could grow food. A group, Save Glem Valley, opposes the solar farm. They say it helps the national grid, not the local area.
The group supports solar energy in general. However, they prefer solar panels on brownfield sites and rooftops. They state electricity made will go to the national grid, so it won’t necessarily be used locally. They suggest using roofs for solar panels, for example, on schools and shopping centers.
The group also points to other solar projects nearby. These projects are in Pentlow, Foxearth, and Belchamp. The group says that the combined effect on the environment is ignored. They describe it as a huge industrialization of the landscape and the campaign wants to stop it from happening.