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Plans to build a new solar farm between two villages have been recommended for approval by planners.
The River Linnet Solar plans will be discussed during a meeting of West Suffolk Council’s development control committee on Wednesday.
Quintas Energy, the applicant, is looking to build a 40-megawatt solar farm on 58 hectares of land between Horringer and Whepstead, near Bury St Edmunds.
The project would connect to the energy grid via the Raingate Street substation in Bury, and be in place for 40 years, producing enough energy to power about 12,000 homes.
A statement on behalf of the company said a ‘robust approach’ had been taken in designing the scheme, with the solar farm helping to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, cut carbon emissions and improve energy security.
The plans have split residents, with 133 representations showing a mix of comments both objecting and in support of the solar farm.
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Horringer and Whepstead, Brockley and Hawstead parish councils have all objected to the plans.
Where objections have been raised, these included concerns over the loss of farmland – about 96 per cent of which is of good quality – as well as its impact on the landscape and traffic.
The application even attracted the attention of Nick Timothy, the MP for West Suffolk, who described it as ‘an attack on our beautiful countryside’.
According to planning documents, the year-long works to build the solar farm would require 705 HGVs, the majority of which would be 10 metres long or less, but with some being as long as 16.5 metres.
On top of this, anywhere between 52 and 80 new two-way daily trips would be generated to accommodate staff.
The county council’s highways team did not object to the plans, subject to conditions, and concluded they would not have a severe impact on the road.
On the landscape impact, officers concluded it was ‘inevitable’ the appearance would change, which could not be mitigated, something councillors will have to consider next week.
Should the plans be approved, the company will pay £18,000 annually, totalling £720,000 over the solar farm’s lifetime, to be spent on local projects.
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