Plans for 3,700 acres of solar panels on farmland
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Plans for 3,700 acres of solar panels on farmland

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Holly Venn is wearing an apron and gray sweater, she is smiling at the camera, in the background the glass front of her cafe is visible.

Holly Venn said she was concerned about the environmental impact of the solar farm (Emma Baugh/BBC)

People have been invited to have their say on plans to install 3,700 hectares (1,500 acres) of solar panels on farmland.

Kingsway Solar wants to install the panels on three sites in south Cambridgeshire and build 14km (8.6 miles) of overhead lines.

It has plans to hold a series of consultation events this month, with the next in the villages of West Wratting and Great Wilbraham, and an online consultation on December 2.

David Vernon, project manager for Kingsway Solar, said: “We will use all feedback to this stage of consultation, as well as ongoing environmental assessments, to develop our proposals further.”

He said the purpose of the consultation was to gather the views of people in the community and understand any problems or issues with the project.

David Vernon is in the village hall wearing a blue suit and white shirt, he looks into the camera with a faint smile, in the background are blue Kingsway Solar posters.David Vernon is in the village hall wearing a blue suit and white shirt, he looks into the camera with a faint smile, in the background are blue Kingsway Solar posters.

David Vernon, who is leading the project, said they would consider the impact of the proposed solar farm (Emma Baugh/BBC)

Mr Vernon said: “Where there is an opportunity to develop solar projects of this scale, it is our view that we should take those opportunities.

“Here, in our view, is an area (where) we can deliver a significant requirement to the national need.”

The solar farm would have a production capacity of 500 megawatts per year, which Kingsway Solar claimed would power 175,000 homes.

A corridor in a village house where four presentation posters lean against a wall. The one closest to the camera reads "Introducing Kingsway Solar: Stage One Consultations". A corridor in a village house where four presentation posters lean against a wall. The one closest to the camera reads "Introducing Kingsway Solar: Stage One Consultations".

Kingsway Solar holds series of consultation events in Cambridgeshire villages (Emma Baugh/BBC)

The proposals include farmland around the villages of West Wratting, Willingham Green, Weston Colville and Balsham.

In addition, Kingsway is planning a 14 km (8.6 mi) “connection corridor”, which would use overhead lines to connect to an existing substation in Burwell.

Due to the scale of the development, the final decision would be made by Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, rather than local planners.

The image shows a map of Burwell, Swaffham Prior, Exning, Newmarket and Long Meadow. A pink and yellow area is crossed on the map to show the connecting corridor as it approaches from the south towards Burwell.The image shows a map of Burwell, Swaffham Prior, Exning, Newmarket and Long Meadow. A pink and yellow area is crossed on the map to show the connecting corridor as it approaches from the south towards Burwell.

Kingsway Solar said it planned to use overhead lines to connect the panels to the grid (Kingsway Solar)

Earlier this year, a 2,500-acre (1,011 ha) solar farm on the borders of Cambridgeshire and Suffolk received the Government’s approval.

The Sunnica project will also be connected to the Burwell substation.

Mr Vernon said: “We are aware of Kingsway Solar’s proximity to Sunnica and will consider this and other developments in the local area as part of our cumulative impact assessment.”

Mike Davey holds his two dogs and wears a yellow puffer jacket. He is walking on a country path.Mike Davey holds his two dogs and wears a yellow puffer jacket. He is walking on a country path.

Mike Davey said the project could damage the area’s biodiversity (Emma Baugh/BBC)

Some local residents have expressed concern about the solar farm’s impact on farmland and local hiking trails.

Mike Davey, who walks his dogs in the area, said: “I just think it will completely destroy the biodiversity of the area and the land use that we use it for.

“It will take it away from us.”

Holly Venn, who runs a cafe, said she was “not too keen” on the idea of ​​the solar farm being so close to the villages.

“I know it has to go somewhere, but rooftops or land that isn’t on a public footpath maybe.”

Miss Venn said she wanted to know more about the environmental impact of solar panels and batteries.

“I would like to know how recyclable things are and how long these things last.”

The initial consultation on the plans will be open until midnight on December 12 and a statutory consultation is due to start early next year.

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