%20copy.jpg)
Protect Staffhurst Heritage # Gaywood Solar
Protect Staffhurst Heritage # Gaywood Solar
Safeguard our historic wealden landscape
Preserve important views from Staffhurst Wood
Gaywood Solar Project #Staffhurst Wood
Protect our heritage landscape
Developers have submitted a plan to build a 61-acre industrial scale solar farm on an Area of Great Landscape Character just a few hundred metres from Staffhurst Wood.
They plan 42,000 large black panels, upto 3 metres above ground level. It will be surrounded by a high security fence and CCTV.
The plan will undermine the Green Belt between Edenbridge and Hurst Green/Oxted which is already under pressure.
The electricity generated will be sold on the open market, and will not directly benefit locals but overseas shareholders. Neither will it reduce energy costs, which are unfortunately driven by world politics.
Renewable energy is vital: solar is clearly better than fossil fuels, yet longer terms issue about polluting heavy metals and panels going to landfill still need to be thought through: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/141111-solar-panel-manufacturing-sustainability-ranking.
As the CPRE observes, there are plenty of Brownfield sites: yet here the plans will damage a historic and beautiful wealden landscape, which is a haven for walkers (especially in ‘bluebell season’), cyclists, runners and horse riders from the surrounding urban areas. Visible from the woods, several roads and footpaths, it will harm views into the Limpsfield Chart AONB as well as the setting of historic farms.
There are significant concerns about flooding because the developer claims that the panels will not impact the behaviour of surface run-off, nor the site's absorption capability. The proposed drainage strategy is inadequate given its special drainage need and conflicts with other guidance: https://www.essexdesignguide.co.uk/suds/further-guidance/solar-array-development.
No Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been undertaken, because the developer's description of the site boundary overlooked two important tributaries and bio-diversity opportunity areas. The Surrey Bat Group has expressed its concerns to the council about the absence of statutory EIA.
Major construction traffic on small local lanes poses a road safety risk on Wolf's Row, Short Lane, Grants Lane and Monks Lane,.
The local farmer will have to leave land he farmed for decades. There is no guarantee it can be returned to agricultural use, because of the complexities and costs of dismantling
Object
....to the industrialisation of our unique heritage and flood risk
Longer and detailed comments should be emailed to: comaps@tandridge.gov.uk quoting TA/2022/963
We suggest you email comments for the time being, until Tandridge confirms the planning comments form is working. Please ensure you receive an email receipt
For help see our OBJECTIONS page here
Our Campaign
Developers have submitted plans and the deadline to object is 10 September 2022
If you wish to object it is vital that you let you submit your views to Tandridge Council here.
Use our detailed list of objections here
If you want to be kept updated, please ‘subscribe’ to our mailing list, by clicking the subscribe link and we will inform you of important steps and how you can help/object.
Advertise the planning application widely
It is important for anyone who objects to make their views known
Make your voice heard
Make your concerns known. If you want to be kept updated, please subscribe to our mailing list and we will inform you of important steps and how you can help/object. Click on "Subscribe" above.
Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Review
The development site is being considered for inclusion in the Surrey HIlls AONB Boundary Review.
The bigger picture
But I am in favour of Green Energy?
So are we! There are lots of places where solar makes sense and does not damage protected heritage landscapes. But all of the guidance, including from the very pro-solar power industry group BRE, recognises that planning permission should not normally be given in sites designated for their natural beauty, which damage not only visual impact, but heritage and local amenity. Greenpeace objected to the Cleve Hill solar farm because it is opposed to "industrialising of the countryside", which is also a concern here.
But I want to support farmers?
The developers who will benefit from the scheme are based in Scotland and France. The land is owned by a businessman, so this is not a case of a local farmer needing to diversify to survive. In fact the opposite is true, because the local farmers who have farmed this land under contract for many years will no longer be able to do so. The development will also lead to the loss of productive agricultural land.
Key information
It is important to understand the industrial scale and visual impact
.png)
Damage to our heritage
-
Damage to heritage landscape in Area of Great Landscape Value and view into AONB
-
The developers have ignored the AONB review, which includes this site
-
The hill-side site means proposed low level deciduous screening will not shield the site even when the trees mature 40 years from now...
_edited_edited_edited.jpg)
Industrialisation of the Staffhurst Wood area
-
From Staffhurst Wood, the site is visible over a wide viewing angle, despite existing mature trees
-
Staffhurst Wood and the surrounding area is an extremely popular local amenity
-
An industrial scale solar farm will permanently change this much loved and protected landscape
Not on our watch
-
The democratically endorsed Limpsfield Neighbourhood Plan seeks to "ensure that the high landscape value will be conserved"
-
The site is an Area of Great Landscape Value, which we should preserve for future generations
-
The hilly site drains into a high risk (Zone 3) flood area, impacting a number of local farms
Gallery
