Plans for solar farm on countryside next to Cambridgeshire border set for approval

Most of the solar farm site sits within the neighbouring county Northants, but part of the scheme falls into Cambs.
-Credit: (Image: Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Wire)


Plans for a solar farm that could power up to 15,000 homes on the edge of Cambridgeshire look set to get the go-ahead from the council next week.

The large green energy facility, which would be located along the A14 Huntingdon Road between Thrapston and Bythorn, has had mixed responses from members of the public with the council receiving 29 objections and 20 letters of support.

The majority of the site area falls within North Northamptonshire, but a section of the access road from the A14 lies within Cambridgeshire.

No objections to the scheme were raised by Cambridgeshire County Council, however a holding objection on the basis of highways concerns has been lodged by Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC). A separate application must be submitted to them for the area of the development within its boundary.

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The solar farm site is located along the A14, between Thrapston and Bythorn.
The solar farm site is located along the A14, between Thrapston and Bythorn. -Credit:CambridgeshireLive

According to plans, the site- which spans three fields measuring about 59 hectares- would be used for a temporary period of 50 years. The applicant, Wood Lodge Solar Project Limited, said the development would save approximately 21,496 tonnes of CO2 annually.

Objections raised concerns over the harm to protected species and biodiversity, increased traffic on surrounding roads and the view that solar panels should be sited elsewhere on brownfield land or on roof tops.

One person wrote: "Solar Farms have no reason to be placed on good quality farmland, so why is this site being considered? North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) needs to have a renewable electricity plan rather than just agreeing to piecemeal Solar Farms across the County in the belief that renewables are green and therefore good."

Another said: "As a Thrapston resident I am totally opposed these developments for so many reasons. Amongst these are the sheer dominance and scale of the plans.

"The impact of traffic on an already gridlocked road passing both Thrapston & Titchmarsh. A major concern is that the A605 is a rural A road and not able to cope with the amount of HGV's that will be used in this scheme."

A number of comments in support which generally impressed the need for green energy were also submitted.

Applicant Wood Lodge Solar Project Limited said the solar panels would generate a capacity of up to 49.99MW.
Applicant Wood Lodge Solar Project Limited said the solar panels would generate a capacity of up to 49.99MW. -Credit:Wood Lodge Solar Project Limited

The planning authority at North Northamptonshire Council concluded: "As outlined earlier in this report, the proposed development supports the Government’s policy for the UK’s transition to achieving a low carbon economy and assists in meeting the pressing need for deployment of renewable energy generation in the UK.

"The impacts on both the landscape character and the associated visual impacts are considered to be adverse and generate a degree of harm. The benefits of renewable energy raise substantial benefits in favour of the proposal."

Planning officers added that the case should "by no means be construed as setting a precedent" for any future application of similar scale and nature before recommending it for approval.

The scheme will be decided by the council's planning committee on Wednesday, October 2.

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