A “devastating” decision to approve a solar farm the size of 250 football pitches has been described as “a very sad day” for villagers.
Evolution Power (EP) launched its proposal for Stonestreet Green solar farm near Ashford – 10 times bigger than neighbouring Aldington – in March 2022.
The land in Aldington is to be turned into a huge solar farm
The London firm then saw its bid to the Planning Inspectorate, the body responsible for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP), accepted for examination in July last year.
More than a year on, and the government has now given the nod to the 400-acre scheme, which will see its photovoltaic panels power 48,000 homes a year with 99.9 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy.
Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, granted development for the project today (Thursday).
It comes as numerous energy firms vie to strike up deals with landowners and councils for new solar farms across Kent as the UK strives to meet the target of net zero emissions by 2050.
But the decision to approve the Stonestreet solar farm has not gone down well with residents.
A map showing where the solar farm development in Aldington will be
One, Derek Burles, who is also the founder of the Aldington and Mersham Support Group, told KentOnline: “It’s not a surprise given we know what the Secretary of State’s approach to solar farms is since he came into office.
“It’s led us to think there was a high prospect of him approving this project.
“It’s still despite the fact there were some really solid reasons for objecting to it.
“We hoped it could be reduced in size and moved away from the close confines of the village, but it seems we failed in that endeavour.”
As Evolution’s project would generate more than 50MW it is categorised as an NSIP, essentially a major infrastructure scheme.
The solar farm will cover 400 acres. Picture: iStock
It means only the government or, more specifically, the Planning Inspectorate, has the power to greenlight the project following a raft of investigations and reports.
And Mr Burles believes its decision will result in residents now questioning their future in the village.
“It has crossed my mind about moving home,” he added.
“People buy houses under the assumption they don’t expect such monstrosities near them.
”It’s intrusion when you’re walking through and driving in and out of the village.
Aldington resident Derek Burles
“It’s a very concentrated and historic network of public footpaths in and around Aldington and they will be seriously affected by this.
“The propaganda in this case of it powering lots of local homes is a fallacy because energy distribution doesn’t work in that way. It’s nonsense to say that.”
Power will be fed into the national network via a connection at the nearby Sellindge electrical substation.
Evolution’s director Giles Frampton insists the project will generate low-cost renewable energy.
He says it will help bolster electricity supply security and points out that three rounds of consultations took place since the plans were originally launched.
Speaking previously, he explained: “Prior to submission we carried out extensive pre-application consultation on our proposals, including a five-week non-statutory consultation, two five-week statutory consultations and two four-week targeted consultations.
“We have consulted in a variety of ways to maximise consultee participation – a large number of consultees provided feedback and we have had careful regard to all of the responses received as we finalised our proposals for the project.”
However, Ashford borough councillor, Linda Harman, disagrees, arguing the farm’s approval represents a bad day for Aldington.
The Ashford Independents’ representative for Saxon Shore ward said: “Like most Aldington residents, I am devastated by this news.
“How the landscape and visual impact can be described as carrying ‘little negative weight’ against the decision to grant this Development Consent Order is beyond my comprehension.
Cllr Linda Harman, Ashford Borough Council
“The impact on our community will be significant.
“The disruption to Station Road during the year of construction works will inconvenience every one of us as this is the main exit and entry into Aldington.
“This is a very sad day for our village.”
The announcement comes less than three months after a planning inspector upheld a decision to turn down plans for a separate nearby farm in the village.
Ashford Borough Council initially threw out French energy firm EDF Renewables’ proposals for a site spanning the size of 190 football pitches, close to Sellindge and Aldington, last year.
Dubbed the ‘East Stour Solar Farm’, the project would have generated almost 50MW – enough power for the equivalent of 16,900 homes, or 29% of the overall 58,000 households in the borough according to latest figures.
However, after EDF quickly appealed the decision, it led to a government planning inspector visiting the site in February before being thrown out following a six-day inquiry earlier this year.