Solar farm planned for Mendlesham raises concern with council

A developer is writing to people living in a Suffolk village about plans for a large solar farm.

Spanish firm Elmya Energy wants to build a site close to Mendlesham, near Stowmarket, that could produce up to 200 megavolts of energy.

A formal consultation is due to start next year and plans are expected to be submitted in 2026.

Mid Suffolk District Council has raised concerns over the use of farmland for energy projects.

Residents living in a 2km radius (1.2 miles) of the planned site have been sent a leaflet from the developer.

Elmya Energy said the solar farm would power more than 60,000 homes a year and would have a 40-year lifespan.

The government would be the ones making a decision over planning permission as the project would be considered nationally significant.

A decision would likely come in 2027, with construction unlikely to start before 2031.

Steve Milburn, senior development manager at Elmya Energy, said: "Our proposals for White Elm Solar Farm are at the very start of a lengthy process that will last a number of years.

"Keeping the community informed at every step is fundamental to our approach."

Andrew Stringer, the Green Party cabinet member for heritage, planning and infrastructure at Mid Suffolk District Council, said the local authority wanted "answers" from the developer.

He continued: "There have been a number of solar farm applications in our district - this is the biggest yet - and we want to ensure the voices of local people are heard and the impacts on our district's communities, businesses, heritage and environment are clearly and fully understood.

"We will also look at their proposal carefully in the weeks and months ahead before we provide our own response."

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