Representation by Catherine Barrow
- Date submitted
- 7 March 2022
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I consider that the development is far too large and some of the sites proposed will have a significant negative impact on the Character of the area. The southern Sunnica sites are principally within the East Anglian Chalk National Character Area no 87 which stretches from Letchworth to just north of Newmarket. This means the large expanse of panels proposed particularly south east of Snailwell will impact on that area significantly. This is especially the case as the character area is narrow and is limited north of Newmarket. Of particular significance is to note the importance of the area of land between Newmarket, the Newmarket horse training grounds (The Limekilns etc) which are extensive and the historic parklands of Chippenham Park and Lodge and the protected Chippenham Fen, a National Nature Reserve. Looking at the proposed solar locations it will be seen that nearly all of this landscape will be lost forever and totally ruined ie the Landscape character of the East Anglian Chalk, as it is so limited in this area. The summary of the character states that:This creates a visually simple and uninterrupted landscape of smooth, rolling chalkland hills with large regular fields enclosed by low hawthorn hedges, with few trees, straight roads and expansive views to the north. (REFERENCE NATIONAL ENGLAND WEB SITE) The landscape quite simply can’t take the extent of coverage proposed as in effect the fundamental landscape character will be damaged and irreversibly ruined. National Policy in the NPPF para 174 states the importance of protection of the landscape. This proposal isn't a couple of fields within a landscape that is extensive and can take it , it is effectively all of that landscape in this section of the countryside and will totally wipe out the character of the landscape. The sites around Isleham fall right at the northern tip of the Chalk landscape with the open fields between Freckenham and Isleham being the last of the this landscape before it transitions into the fens. Again when the extent of the landscape type is so limited anything of scale will do significant damage. Overall the proposal is far too big, it cannot be accommodated within the landscape without significant damage. Expansive views cannot be mitigated with tree planting as the character will be lost for ever.