Richard has objected to the proposed East Park Energy solar site to the north of his constituency, criticising its heavy reliance on local farmland and urged residents to respond to the consultation before it closed on Tuesday night.
At the heart of Richard’s concerns is the project's use of 74% high-quality agricultural land (Best and Most Versatile, or BMV). He warns that using such a large amount of prime farmland for solar panels could set a dangerous precedent, threatening food security and opening the door to further farmland conversions across the country. Richard questions why rooftop solar installations on local warehouses weren’t considered as a less disruptive alternative.
Covering 766 hectares (1,900 acres), the proposed East Park Energy site is also massive in scale—over seven times the size of the UK’s largest currently operating solar farm (Shotwick Solar Park)—and would dominate the local landscape, blocking public footpaths and disrupting the natural environment. Richard also highlights a lack of clear financial plans for decommissioning, calling for an independent fund to ensure the land is restored to farmland at the project’s end.
The project’s three-year construction phase is expected to bring heavy traffic to local roads, with more than 7,000 HGV deliveries forecasted. Richard presses East Park Energy to clarify how it plans to manage the noise, dust, and disruption for nearby communities.
You can read Richard's objection to the proposal here.
You can read more about Richard’s work on this issue here.
