Proposed 2,200 acre solar farm less than nine miles from Haverhill would be largest in the UK if built
A proposal for a solar farm that, if built today, would be largest in the UK, is expected to be put forward for land just a few miles from Haverhill.
Kingsway Solar, a subsidiary of investment management company Downing LLP, hopes to create the solar farm on two parcels of land in between the A11 and West Wratting and Balsham.
The intended site is the property of four different landowners, all of whom will have to be negotiated with by the developer.
The solar farm would cover 900 hectares (2,224 acres) and would, say Kingsway, provide enough energy for 253,000 homes.
It would be capable of supplying the required energy to 91.3 per cent of Cambridgeshire households.
Should a planning application be submitted by Kingsway Solar, it will be decided upon by Claire Coutinho, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. because it is classed as a nationally significant infrastructure project due to its scale.
Kingsway Solar has already given presentations to the parish councils of Balsham and West Wratting, as it carries out pre-planning application consultation.
Cllr Henry Batchelor, who represents the Linton division at Cambridgeshire County Council, which includes the parishes of West Wratting and Balsham, attended the project presentation give by Kingsway Solar before Balsham Parish Council.
He said: “It is a significant area. They confirmed that if it was built today it would be the largest solar farm in the UK.”
A decision by the Secretary of State on whether the proposed Sunnica Solar Farm, which is spread across 2,700 acres of land on the Suffolk and Cambridgeshire border, has been delayed multiple times.
If approved it would impact on villagers in Chippenham, Isleham, Freckenham, Fordham, West Row, Worlington, Burwell, Barton Mills, Red Lodge and Snailwell.
Ms Coutinho is now expected to announce her decision on June 20.
Cllr Batchelor, who is also the Liberal Democrat’s prospective parliamentary candidate for West Suffolk at the next General Election and lives in Haverhill, added: “I think it is fair to say everyone that attended the meeting at Balsham was quite anti (the solar farm) but I keep a bit more of an open mind.
”I’m not against green energy but it’s got to be on the right area of land.”
In its presentation, Kingsway said it is working to establish an onsite Point of Connection (POC) to the National Grid through the 400kV Burwell to Pelham line that crosses the site.
Kingsway’s projects also come with community benefit schemes, which see founding provided for local initiatives, EV charging points installed rooftop solar schemes provided to local households and businesses.
The next steps, said Kingsway, are to formerly launch the project, finalise land agreements and develop site design and move ahead with consultation with stakeholders.
