Back to list Cottam Solar Project

Representation by Ivan Peter Annibal

Date submitted
16 February 2023
Submitted by
Members of the public/businesses
  1. The Cottam proposal is Just 1 of 4 Solar, Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) within a few miles of each other. Together this would be the largest solar farm complex in Europe and would amount to 10,000 acres in total. At present all 4 proposals will be examined independently they should be assessed altogether 2. The Cottam Solar proposal, at over 3,000 acres, combined with the other 3 proposals have a cumulative effect of 10,000 acres of farmland lost and the industrialisation of the area as a whole. This will impact on food production, agricultural land is not the best place for this level of industrial energy manufacture, the local food sector will be adversely affected 3. There will be 3,000 acres of unprecedented 4.5m high mechanised solar panels. This would change the quality of the living environment for a hinterland of over 10,000 residents immeasurably and into the long term 4. One of the world's largest Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) near Willingham by Stow is a potential fire and chemical risk to life and property. It is unacceptable to have in so close to residential areas and other property 5. Up to a distance of 12 miles (20km) from the Grid connection, on 10 separate parcels of land is excessive and further ecological disruption would be caused by the unnecessary civil works involved in the cable connections. 6. There would be a 4 year construction period when combined with the other 3 projects on a building site of 10,000 acres. My mental health and well-being would be adversely affected by this scale of development 7, Important factors such as brownfield site use, panel height and glare, battery storage, generation capabilities and flood risk, have not been sincerely and accurately communicated and I do not believe the developers have any motive apart from profit and no interest in or connection with the communities their proposal will blight.