A decision on plans to build a controversial solar farm near Newmarket will be deferred again due to the general election. 

In April, a decision for the 2,500-acre Sunnica Energy Farm project that would  be built across the border between east Cambridgeshire and west Suffolk, including in Mildenhall, West Row, Freckenham and Worlington, was deferred again, with a new deadline set for June 20.

However, a government update on May 30 stated that, since a General Election is set to be held on July 4 and development decisions cannot be made in a pre-election period, it would be delayed again.

The statement read: "On Saturday 25 May 2024 we entered a pre-election period, following the announcement that a general election will be held on Thursday 4 July 2024.

"During the pre-election period it is customary for Ministers to observe discretion in initiating any new action of a continuing or long term character. Consequently, no development consent decisions will be taken during this period.

"We will provide a further update following the general election."

In April following the latest delay, then-MP for west Suffolk Matt Hancock, who has been against the plans since the start, said: "It's time to put a stop to Sunnica once and for all.

"I am a strong supporter of solar energy but the Sunnica development is dangerous and in the wrong place.

"It needs to be rejected and the developers need to think again." 

A previous decision deadline of March 7 was also delayed, as was a decision in December and September last year.