Government delays planning decision on mega-solar farm for fourth time

The government has delayed the planning decision on controversial proposals for the UK’s biggest solar farm for a fourth time.

Clare Coutinho has re-set the statutory deadline for determining the development consent order (DCO) for the Sunnica Energy Farm, with the planning inspectorate confirming that the energy security secretary has decided to push back the decision on the DCO until 20 June.

In a written statement to the House of Commons, Coutinho had previously said the decision was due to be issued by tomorrow (11 April). This was already the third deadline set by ministers for a decision on the scheme, which was originally due to determined no later than last September.

The public inquiry into Sunnica’s DCO application concluded in March last year and the inspectorate’s recommendation was submitted in June to the secretary of state, who makes the final decision on such major infrastructure schemes.

Sunnica is planning to cover 2,500 acres with solar panels on three sites near Newmarket on the border between Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

If constructed, the scheme will be more than ten times the size of the Shotwick solar park in Flintshire, currently reckoned to be the largest in the UK.

However the plans have encountered heavy flak from local MPs, including Coutinho’s Cabinet colleague, Lucy Frazer, who is secretary of state for digital and culture.

The government has pledged to speed up the planning process for renewable projects by setting tighter deadlines for decisions, but critics are concerned that many of the biggest delays are the result of ministerial procrastination, like that bedevilling Sunnica’s application.

Chris Hewett, chief executive of Solar Energy UK, said: “The solar industry is frustrated by the mixed signals coming from government on planning. There has been a string of ministerial decisions in recent weeks overturning or delaying recommendations to approve planning permission for specific solar farms.

“The largest was put back for an extraordinary fourth time today. Such prevarication creates serious doubts amongst potential investors in the UK clean energy economy and their money could easily go overseas, wasting potential for growth and jobs.”

Hewett said he is “very much looking forward” to the launch of the government’s roadmap to reaching its target of 70GW of solar generation capacity by 2035, which is expected in the coming weeks.

This will lay out commitments on skills, grid access, the supply chain and rooftop solar.