Back to list Mallard Pass Solar Project

Representation by Kelham Cooke

Date submitted
31 January 2023
Submitted by
Members of the public/businesses
  • 2 years of noise, light pollution, disruption and damage across 2,105 acre site and surrounding area. - Cabling to new sub-station may now run through Essendine on A6121 with Mallard Pass seeking compulsory acquisition 'rights’. - Extensive traffic measures through Ryhall, Essendine, Great Casterton and surrounding areas especially in the vicinity of 7 construction compounds. - Public rights or way (PRoW) will be closed and/or diverted when required. 80, 400 and 1000 tonne HGV loads. - Up to 400 workers a day on-site; Working hours 7-7 Mon to Sat. - Complete uncertainty for future generations as the application has no time limit. - Will the funding be secure for decommissioning, if not there could be a solar graveyard when it shuts down? It's extremely common for these sites to be sold on multiple times making it harder to control operations. - Site 2,105 acres (c1300 football pitches), solar area 1,052 acres (1,312 acres incl. field margins offsets). The sheer unprecedented scale and topography means you cannot eradicate or screen all the different adverse impacts. - The local landscape will be changed to an industrial-scape with 560,000 solar panels 3.3m high; security fencing and CCTV; solar stations or shipping containers housing inverters/transformers dotted across the solar area. - No benefits directly for the community, the energy produced will be used across the UK as required. Your electricity tariff will not be cheaper as a result. - New sub-station will be visible & audible for Essendine residents on A6121. - Solar is hugely inefficient as source of energy only delivering 11% of its stated capacity on average in the UK (350MW suggested max proposed by Mallard Pass). In the past week solar only generated 1% of all energy in Great Britain; in the past year with exceptionally hot summer it was 4.6%. Due to its inefficiency it is best placed on all rooftops where nothing else is sacrificed i.e. productive agricultural land. - Planning policy is clear solar should only be built on BMV (Best and Most Versatile) land as a last resort. Latest Mallard Pass calculations suggest 41% of the land proposed for solar is BMV which ignores planning guidance. - Flood risk concerns off-site discounted by Mallard Pass. Impact on mental health of residents/locals not considered. Visual amenity of public rights of way (PRoWs) significantly compromised, despite addition of permissive paths.