A council leader has labelled plans for the biggest solar farm in the country as 'the poorest application' he's dealt with, as the proposals enter their final stages.
The first hearing of the formal examination process for the proposed Sunnica solar farm took place on Tuesday, December 6.
The solar and battery plant plans would see sites built across the border between east Cambridgeshire and west Suffolk, including Mildenhall, West Row, Freckenham and Worlington.
Suffolk County Council's deputy leader Councillor Richard Rout told the Planning Inspectorate's Examination Authority panel that it is "the poorest application I have dealt with to date".
Richard Rout, cabinet member for finance and environment and deputy leader at Suffolk County Council. (Image: Simon Lee Photography Suffolk UK)
Cllr Rout said it's the worst application he's seen "in over four years of having held political responsibility for overseeing the council's response to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, such as Sizewell C, EA2 North and EA1 windfarms, major interconnector projects and the East Anglia Green pylon runs."
He reiterated that the council supports the need for the nation's low carbon future, pointing to the authority's own Net Zero by 2030 ambition, but added: "I will not allow Suffolk's communities to be pushed to one side by an application like this, which has not adequately engaged with local people and businesses, nor seemingly done its homework on the enormous impacts this solar farm will have.
"We have seen some progress lately with the applicant, who has met with us to discuss some of the issues in more detail.
"But it's deeply frustrating that this has only happened recently. It should have happened a long time ago whilst preparing for this current Examination."
The application by Sunnica Ltd to build its solar and battery plant spanning the border between east Cambridgeshire and west Suffolk is currently in the examination stage. (Image: Newsquest)
"There remains a very great deal of work to be done before this proposal can be considered anywhere near acceptable."
"The council wholly supports the need for the nation's low carbon future and as an authority we have our own Net Zero by 2030."
The application by Sunnica Ltd to build its solar and battery plant spanning the border between east Cambridgeshire and west Suffolk is currently in the examination stage.
The industrial proposal will now be examined by the government's Planning Inspectorate and a decision is expected later in 2023.
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