West Suffolk Council to consider environmental impact opinion application for proposed Brandon solar farm

Planners will decide whether an environmental statement is needed for a proposed commercial solar farm and battery energy storage system in Brandon.

West Suffolk Council has received an environmental impact assessment (EIA) screening opinion application to decide whether the proposed solar farm, which would stretch over three fields on the Brandon Fields Estate, would cause ‘likely significant environmental impacts’ for which an environment statement would be required.

A supporting statement sent to planners by renewable energy producer OPDE UK Limited said the applicants did not believe an EIA was required for the proposed development of a solar farm for commercial electricity generation.

The supporting statement added that the proposed scheme would provide the electricity needs of ‘approximately 7,700 homes’ annual usage’, while the development would be ‘fully reversible’ if electricity generation at the site ceased.

The site is currently used for arable farming.

Brandon resident Wayne Bland, who commented on the planning portal, said: “Why would there not be an EIA? It is an agricultural greenfield site within an SSI and, I believe, the stone curlew protection zone.

“It is an EIA that could identify flora and fauna that requires mitigation or avoidance, that we are currently unaware of.

“At the end of the day this is a brownfield site. It must be moved to scoping, data collection and assessment.”