Sunnica solar energy approval – our reaction

SPS is extremely disappointed by the Secretary of State’s decision to grant consent for Sunnica. We recognise the devastating impact that this decision will have on communities, heritage, landscape and nature.

Despite the Examining Authority’s recommendation to withhold consent for the application, the new Energy Security and Net Zero Minister, Ed Miliband considered that the environmental harm was outweighed by the public benefit of energy generation:

The Secretary of State acknowledges that all nationally significant energy infrastructure projects will have some potential adverse impacts. The Secretary of State has considered all the benefits and adverse impacts associated with the Proposed Development. Overall, the Secretary of State has concluded that on balance the benefits, in particular in relation to the need for new generation capacity as established in paragraph 4.16 above, outweigh the adverse impacts associated with the Proposed Development. The Secretary of State therefore concludes that consent should be granted for the Proposed Development.

SPS had strongly objected to the application on landscape and heritage grounds, in particular the impacts upon the setting of the historic Limekilns at Newmarket, a valued landscape worthy of protection (our response to the Examiner’s questions Jan 2024). The Examiner agreed that the development will have an extensive adverse impact on the landscape character and setting of the Limekilns and that the proposals therefore did not meet the requirements of good design and minimising the landscape and visual impact.

However, the Secretary of State while acknowledging the negative impacts on the landscape which would be incapable of mitigation, even at 15 years of the operational phase, gave only moderate negative weight in the planning balance to the landscape and visual impacts of the development.

We share the disappointment of all those who worked so hard to make a compelling case to protect our historic landscapes, countryside, residential amenity, food producing land and biodiversity. Despite the best efforts of so many, the weight on energy generation has trumped all other environmental considerations.

This decision will have serious implications for all those who are affected by nationally significant energy generating proposals. The Sunnica decision will be a turning point for our countryside.

The Secretary of State’s decision can be read in full here.