Still time to voice your support for Ouse Valley Solar Farm
The proposed Ouse Valley Solar Farm could generate enough power for 4,800 homes and offer community and biodiversity benefits. Here’s how you can voice your support – plus Ovesco’s Chris Rowland addresses misinformation by Maria Caulfield MP about the project.
WORTH READING: Ovesco director addresses misinformation about solar farm proposals
Ouse Valley Solar Farm at Norlington Farm near Ringmer is an ambitious project led by local community energy company Ovesco to create a solar array that will generate around 17 megawatts of power – enough to power 4,800 homes.
The project could make a massive contribution to Lewes District Council’s aim to reach ‘carbon neutrality’ by 2030. The project has also been designed to support local biodiversity and for surplus profits to be invested directly back into the local community. You can read more about the solar farm and its planned benefits in the briefing document here.
Four steps to voice your support
After extensive public consultation, the plans for the solar farm have now been submitted for consent. Public support can make a huge difference to whether plans get permission or not.
Although the consultation period deadline was 19 May – comments submitted until the planning officers meet can still be taken into account.
Here’s how to comment:
- Go to the planning portal https://planningpa.lewes.gov.uk/online-applications/search.do?action=simple&searchType=Application
- When prompted please input the following planning reference LW/22/0254
- Click “Comments” then “Make a comment”
- Make your comment.
You may choose to refer to the following benefits in your comments:
- Ouse Valley Solar Farm is expected to generate up to 17MW of clean renewable electricity to the National Grid
- This proposal would assist Lewes District Council in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions in line with local, national and international targets and the declared Climate Emergency.
- The proposal would generate the equivalent electrical needs of approximately 4,800 family homes which equates to an anticipated CO2 displacement of around 6,800 tonnes per annum.
- Significant biodiversity net gain is also expected with a 234% net gain in habitat areas and 104% net gain in hedgerow areas.
- As a community energy project, local residents have the ability to invest in Ouse Valley Solar Farm and receive an annual return on their investment. All further profits from the solar farm will be invested directly back into the local community.
All the document relating to the planning application are on the planning portal. They include the Agricultural Land Assessment (ALC) confirming the land is ‘grade 3B’ following testing of the soil.
If you have any queries about the project, contact ousevalleysolar@ovesco.co.uk
If the solar farm project goes ahead. I understand that a public right of way will be provided from the A26 to Norlington Lane. I have asked on many occasions for a multi use/cycle path to be provided between the A26 and Ringmer. This would improve safety for cyclists and horse riders and would meet the needs of sustainable transport. Please can the proposed footpath be upgraded to a multi use path.