Controversial new Peterborough solar farm recommended for approval
Plans for a new solar and battery farm in Stanground have been recommended for approval by Peterborough City Council’s planning team.
This is despite the authority receiving multiple objections for the proposed development off Buntings Lane, including from residents who believe it would be hugely detrimental to local wildlife and to their own house prices.
Cambridgeshire County Council is seeking permission to build a 2.93 MW solar farm and battery energy storage system at an old landfill site that was formally closed in 1992.
The county council owns the land between the A1139 Fletton Parkway, Stanham Way and the A605 and has said the project would supply the National Grid and be of no cost to Peterborough City Council or its residents.
A planning statement submitted to the city council as part of the application promised to mitigate against adverse visual effects, as well as the loss of land for horses to graze.
Under the plans, access to the site would be off the A605, while construction of the project would take approximately 24 weeks.
A consultation process saw the council receive 27 responses, of which 25 were objections and two were in support of the proposals.
No individuals or organisations who by law have to be consulted with raised any formal objections, although the council’s ecologist stated: “The proposals have the potential to impact protected species (Great Crested Newts), so any works will be subject to a GCN licence.”
The council’s planning committee will decide whether to approve the application on Tuesday.