Fiction
The Solar Farm will affect the public right of way
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What They Say
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​The Public Right of Way (PRoW) that transects the site will remain open and accessible during both the construction and operation. There will be no closures, diversions, or impact on offsite PRoWs or bridleways, all of which will remain fully useable. A 5-metre buffer either side will preserve openness and ensure safe, pleasant access through the site. The proposals have been designed to retain public access to the countryside, not remove it, and care has been taken to minimise disruption to local routes and rural character. During construction, signs will be placed on both sides of the PRoW, and a qualified Banksman will escort vehicles, ensuring the path is clear before crossing.
The Reality
Note: The PROWs offsite will remain open according to the developers however sharing Lords Lane with construction traffic will not be safe. The rights of way that transect the site i.e. linking Lords Lane and Exelby will also remain open. This PROW is bound to be damaged by construction traffic and will also not be safe to use all of the time - even with their banksman in attendance. Will it even be practical to keep it open to users throughout the whole construction period? They say so, we'll have to wait and see. But either way, would you actually want to walk/ride/cycle with this noise in the background? This video was taken from the road during construction at Skeeby.
Fiction
​Solar Farms harm our local biodiversity and landscape
What They Say
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​Solar Farms deliver net biodiversity gains, protecting local wildlife and strengthening habitats. Recent research by the University of Cambridge and RSPB showed that solar farms in East Anglia supported more bird species – including Corn Buntings and Yellowhammers – than nearby arable land. Research from Lancaster University (March 2024) also showed thriving populations of rare species like brown hares, weasels, and damselflies on solar farms. Enviromena is undertaking an Agricultural Land Classification Report, Ecological Assessment and a Landscape and Ecological Management Plan which will ensure that the Proposed Development delivers significant Biodiversity Net Gain to the area.
The Reality
We would argue that it will be hard to improve on what is currently here and what is here will be wiped out during the construction.
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The ALC classification must have already been carried out in order for the Chief Commercial Officer to be so sure that 70% of the area is Grade 3b.
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The recent research that is referred to was based on East Anglia's arable fields which are very different to the proposed development site. It specifically concludes .... 'The new research published in the journal Bird Study, found that – hectare for hectare – solar farms situated in agriculturally dominated East Anglia contained a greater number of bird species and overall number of individuals than surrounding arable land.' It is not relevant to this site. The species mentioned are already here in abundance, as they will know from the bird surveys that were carried out in 2024. The full research article can be read here
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The second study produced by Lancaster University concludes that ''Landscape characteristics affected all pollinator groups and biodiversity was lower at solar parks surrounded by more suitable habitat in some cases, partially supporting our second hypothesis. WLF density was more influential than the cover of high-quality habitat surrounding solar parks, where bumble bees, hoverflies and moths were generally less abundant or species rich where the surrounding landscape contained a higher density of hedgerows, woodland edges or lines of trees.'' The full article can be read here . So while biodiversity for bees, hoverflies and moths can be improved on some sites by planting appropriate wildflower mixes, the insects may not be attracted to it, if the surrounding area is more appealing to them. It also doesn't take account of all the mammals that will be displaced or the fact that it is heavily dependent on the developers managing the wildflower mix.
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Homes
The Solar Farm will power 13830 homes per year
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What They Say
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The proposed solar farm will have a capacity of 30MW. The solar farm will create enough clean, renewable energy to power approximately 13,830 homes per annum. The solar farm would avoid 7,730 tonnes of CO2e annually (compared to other non-renewable forms of energy generation), which is the equivalent of taking 5,545 cars off the road each year.​
The Reality
There was an extremely knowledgeable gentleman in the audience. He pointed out that the figure of 13830 homes that could be powered is based on the current energy mix. So as we move to net zero and homes have to be heated from electrical sources, the number will in fact be much less. The Chief Commercial Officer had to agree.
Substations
What They Say
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The two substations will be located near to Lords Lane, close to the existing overhead 11KV lines. The DNO substation ( the permanent one ) will be approximately 2m high.
There are two substations on site - one permanent and one temporary
The Reality
We haven't come across such a small substation on any of Enviromena's other sites.
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At Marr near Doncaster, the dimensions are 9m long x 2.8m wide x 3.4 m high. It can be viewed here
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At their Daisy Hill Site in East Yorkshire, the dimensions are exactly the same. The plan can be viewed here
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At St. Mary Marsh in Kent, the exact same dimensions and plans are used again and can be found here
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At High Barns near Hartlepool which is Enviromena's most recently approved site, the DNO substation is much bigger and in a different league and we assume isn't relevant here. To take a see the design, click here
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In conclusion there is no reason to believe that the DNO substation will in fact only be only a '' couple of meters high ''