Disappointment at Sunnica decision

12 Jul 2024

The Cabinet Member for Planning at West Suffolk Council has said he is disappointed at the decision by the Secretary of State to allow the Sunnica solar farm to go ahead.

The solar far has today been given the go ahead by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband.

It will be built across four sites, one near Mildenhall and West Row, another near Freckenham and Worlington and then on two other sites in East Cambridgeshire close to Newmarket. They will all be connected by cables running underground. 

While West Suffolk Council supports sustainability and use of renewable energy including solar, the council’s position is that the Sunnica application is too big and in the wrong location.

Cllr Jim Thorndyke, Cabinet Member for Planning at West Suffolk Council said: “Many of our local towns and parishes and the Sunnica Action Group have raised concerns about the impact of this application. West Suffolk Council has listened, and it has also reviewed the information from Sunnica. Together with Suffolk County Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council, we have all objected to the application citing concerns about the impact it will have.

“So I am disappointed by today’s decision.

“We are fully committed to solar and other renewable energy to help tackle climate change. 

“But Sunnica proposals are too big and in the wrong location and we will now be carefully reviewing the decision to understand how it has been reached.”

West Suffolk Council already works to install solar panels on the roofs of businesses, community and public buildings, and it also owns one of the largest Council owned solar farms on 17.5 hectares of land at Toggam Farm near Lakenheath.

But the Sunnica scheme is 35 times bigger than Toggam. It will occupy more than 621 hectares. There will also be additional land for Battery Energy Storage as well as a buffer where no other development could take place.

It was because to its sheer size, that the planning application has to be decided by The Secretary of State. 

As part of its objection to the scheme West Suffolk Council expressed concerns over the impact to ecology and biodiversity, the local landscape, flood risk, traffic, as well as potential damage to the horse racing industry and tourism. It echoed safety fears raised by Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service and warned the Sunnica scheme could have a damaging impact on local communities, their homes and businesses, as well as to nature, the local landscape and more. 

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