Latest news with #landscapeprotection


BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
South Norfolk Council attempts to guide mega solar farm plans
A council has put together a new guide for developers of mega solar farms amid fears the area is being "disproportionately targeted".South Norfolk Council's document will inform its response to proposals in the hope of "minimising adverse effects" on the area has been earmarked for several large projects, including what could be the biggest solar farm in the council leader Daniel Elmer said the district had become a "nexus" of energy infrastructure applications due to its flat landscape and location along a grid connection to London. "We don't want to be unreasonable, but we do want to make sure every proposal that comes forward works for the residents of South Norfolk as well as everyone else," he on large projects will be made by the government due to their size, the Local Democracy Reporting Service the authority is seeking to guide energy-related proposals include National Grid's pylon network from Norwich to Tilbury, Essex, running through villages such as Flordon and Winfarthing, as well as four huge solar are the East Pye project, set to span 2,700 acres (1,090 ha) across villages including Hempnall, Great Moulton and Saxlingham; an unnamed 5,000-acre (2,020 ha) project in Gissing; an unnamed 2,500-acre (1,010 ha) project near Long Stratton, and the Tasway Energy Park earmarked for 3,600 acres (1,460 ha).But plans for a huge battery storage facility across farmland in Rushall, near Diss, have just been "paused" by developers after opposition. 'Fair share' South Norfolk Council's supplementary planning document will help identify areas most at risk of being impacted by renewable energy schemes and find other suitable Wateridge, Green councillor for Bunwell, said: "The village is starting to look completely encircled – the news about Tasway was the final straw for many residents."I wholeheartedly support renewable energy projects, but every county across the country should be hosting its fair share."There is no doubt that South Norfolk is being disproportionately targeted by energy companies." South Norfolk Labour MP Ben Goldsborough recently faced criticism for opposing the Tasway Energy Park, despite having endorsed the East Pye project, barely a mile said he believed his constituency needed to "play its role" in the transition to green energy."But when we keep getting as many applications as this, we have to say, enough is enough," he could become the biggest solar energy producer in the country if the schemes all go ahead. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.


BBC News
26-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Solar farm for St Mary Bourne rejected by Basingstoke Council
A plan for a solar farm that its developers said could power about 7,200 family homes has been refused by a BSR Energy applied to use 34.8 hectares (86 acres) of arable farmland at St Mary Bourne, near Andover, site is just within the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, formerly known as an Area of Outstanding Natural and Deane Borough Council officers recommended it was given the go-ahead, but the authority's development control committee rejected the application. It argued it would damage the landscape and that there were no exceptional circumstances that meant it should be approved. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.


BBC News
22-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Warwickshire campaigners celebrate as solar farm rejected
A local campaigner has said she is "overjoyed" after plans to construct a solar farm next to a Warwickshire village have been Pittel led the drive against the proposed 212-acre site to the west of Fosse Way, near Radford Semele. The plans sparked significant pushback from residents with more than 300 objections, including a petition signed by more than 1,200 at Warwick District Council voted eight to one to reject the plans at a meeting on Tuesday evening as the impact to the landscape outweighed the benefits of the source of renewable energy. Recurrent Energy, who were behind the project, said the site would generate enough renewable energy to power about 20,651 homes and save 14,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. However, the number of other solar farms in close proximity to the planned site led the councillors to acknowledge the "cumulative impact". Matt Western, MP for Warwick and Leamington, Radford Semele Parish Council and landscape professionals from Warwickshire County Council also objected to the plans. In addition to the "cumulative impact", they added that the plans would also lead to landscape harm, the loss of good quality agricultural land and open space."There was an awful lot of opposition to it," Ms Pittel said. 'Site would have dominated village' In a statement on social media, Western said the site would have "dominated" the nearby village, but added that he "cared deeply" about green energy. He suggested onshore wind sites could be used as a renewable source in Warwickshire instead. Ms Pittel said she was "very hopeful" the rejection would not be overturned if it were to be appealed as local policy "protected against the cumulative impacts" that resulted "from all the other developments here". She added that the impacts "can't be mitigated" as a result of the neighbouring sites. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.