New Peterborough solar farm approved despite vocal opposition from local residents

Cambridgeshire County Council has received planning permission to build a 2.93 MW solar farm and battery energy storage system at an old landfill site it owns off Buntings Lane that was formally closed in 1992.

Approval was granted by councillors in Peterborough despite concerns over the impact on wildlife, the loss of green space and potential glare on neighbouring properties.

Members of the authority’s Planning and Environmental Protection Committee were told on Tuesday that the new facility would help Peterborough meet its pledge to be carbon neutral by 2030.

Tom Woof, speaking on behalf of the county council, told committee members: “The provision of renewable energy systems is a key part of a local, national and global effort to reduce CO2 emissions and tackle the declared climate emergency.”

He also moved to address concerns over the potential loss of wildlife on the green space which was said to include rabbits, foxes, deer, butterflies, birds and great crested newts.

“Research has shown that well managed solar farms are a haven for wildlife,” he said, while adding that fencing will provide an “enhanced wildlife sanctuary on site”.

Mr Woof also claimed extensive woodland planting would mitigate the potential for glare to impact neighbouring properties, one of several concerns raised by ward member Cllr Chris Harper.

The Conservative member for Stanground South told the committee that the land which is situated between the A1139 Fletton Parkway, Stanham Way and the A605 “creates separation from the urban part of Peterborough, so effectively gives (residents) a nice gap between their houses and Amazon and other buildings”.

In a final plea for the application to be refused, he added: “Residents are urging you please to listen to their concerns and decide whether you believe the loss of this highly valued, open area, which you know is in the Local Plan as necessary for the separation from Stanground with the urban areas, is justified and outweighs the adverse impact.”

All members of the committee voted to approve the application, other than Cllr Brian Rush (Conservative, Stanground South) who abstained.

Cllr Dennis Jones, Labour member for Dogsthorpe, said: “I’m prepared to give it a go because I’m conscious that we need to do something to offset our carbon emissions.”

Cllr Christian Hogg, Liberal Democrat member for Fletton and Stanground, said biodiversity will be able to flourish with only 50 per cent of the land being developed.

He added: “We have got a climate emergency and we’re going to have make some difficult decisions to reduce our carbon footprint. Increasing green energy is only something that can be applauded.

“Clearly we have to make sure these types of developments are on the correct site.

“I do take on board that residents of adjoining housing estates will be looking out onto a field of solar panels and that ultimately is a matter of taste.”

Liberal Democrat member for Gunthorpe Cllr Andrew Bond said: “The site can’t be used for much else. We have a climate emergency as councillors have recognised and the developer seems to me to have taken lots of steps to try and mitigate any negative effect it might have.

“I do appreciate the residents clearly don’t want it. However, with the planting of trees I think the shining effect will probably be mitigated to a large effect.”

Cabinet member for strategic planning and commercial strategy and investments Cllr Peter Hiller, who is also a Conservative ward member for Castor and Glinton, acknowledged that it was a “difficult” decision.

But he added that there would be “huge benefits” from the clean energy.

Under the plans, access to the site will be off the A605 with construction of the project expected to take approximately 24 weeks.