'We are deeply concerned' - Newmarket solar farm scheme met with huge opposition

Government examiners have inspected the historic Limekilns training grounds in Newmarket as part of a decision into plans for Britain's biggest solar farm.

Jockey Club Estates and local authorities are opposed to the proposals by Sunnica to build a 2,500-acre solar farm by the Limekilns, a scheme which is bracketed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and bypasses normal local planning requirements.

Examiners from the government planning inspectorate visited Sunnica West Site B which is adjacent to Chippenham Fen, Fordham, the Limekilns and neighbouring Railwayland gallops, where champions such as Frankel and Baaeed have been prepared.

Nick Patton, managing director of Jockey Club Estates, said: “We are deeply concerned by the proximity and high visibility of the Sunnica proposal to this sensitive area and the impact it may have on one of our valued landscapes, namely the Limekilns gallops.

"Racehorses have been trained on these historic and unique gallops for centuries. It is a beautiful, unspoilt setting with the highest quality grass gallops for training racehorses.

"The spectacle of watching the training of horses on these gallops is an important component of attracting racehorse owners and their investment to the area, and it is essential to ensure that the gallops and their historical surroundings are not jeopardised in any way.”

The Say No to Sunnica Community Action Group protesting against the proposed scheme

Local town and parish councils oppose the scheme, as do both local MPs Matt Hancock and Lucy Frazer. Cambridgeshire and Suffolk County Councils have also stated that they are unable to support the application.

The Sunnica scheme has been in the making for over three years but has been met with a huge amount of opposition from the many communities affected by it, despite residents being generally supportive of renewables, including solar.

Dr Catherine Judkins, who chairs the Say No to Sunnica Community Action Group, said: “Residents here are not anti-solar, but over 93 per cent are opposed to the Sunnica plan. At a time of global food insecurity, it is madness to take some of the UK’s best vegetable producing land out of production.

"Not only is this likely to affect the local economy, but it is also likely to add to unnecessary carbon miles due to increased imports. There are many solar farm proposals currently in the pipeline across the UK, with a very large proportion being on productive agricultural land. This unregulated loss of farmland needs to stop.”

A Sunnica statement said: “Following the examination, the examining authority will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy as to whether the application should be approved or refused.

"The Secretary of State will consider that recommendation and make a final decision on whether the application should be granted or not.”

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