Solar farm could boost wildlife and reduce bills

An East Sussex village could soon have a solar farm that would generate clean energy and help residents reduce their bills, according to developers.

Plans for a solar farm in Crowhurst would create enough energy to power over 2,500 homes a year, with surrounding land transformed into a nature reserve.

Energise Sussex Coast (ESC), which is managing the project, said 80% of the 335 homes in the village relied on oil heating.

An ESC spokesperson said: "Crowhurst residents have been pioneering sustainable futures for many years and we want to support this dynamic local group by creating the kind of nature reserve and solar park that could be a model for every rural town or village to follow."

Plans for the 12 hectare farm, submitted to Rother District Council (RDC), also aim to foster biodiversity by increasing the number of wild habitats including a kilometre of new hedgerows and wildflower meadows, developers say.

A recent study found that essential insulation for 200 homes alone would cost around £750,000, while installing air-source heat pumps across the village would require £3.4 million, according to ESC.

ESC said the solar farm would be owned and controlled by a not-for-profit community energy co-operative and any profits generated would go into a Community Benefit Fund for the village.

The spokesperson added: "The kind of investment needed to make these beautiful Sussex cottages warm, dry, healthy and cheap to heat is huge but a discreet solar project like this can fund it.

"The project will also provide safe wildlife habitats, jobs for local people and clean and secure energy for homes, the railways and local businesses."

Many public commenters praised the project on the RDC website, adding it was "very necessary if the UK is to move progressively towards a greener future".

But others raised concerns about the visual effect on the landscape as well as access issues and the fact the project was "too big and too close to residential properties".

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