It would be the size of 55 football pitches
Site of Enviromena’s proposed solar farm opposite Marten Farm off St Mary’s Road, Dymchurch, Romney Marsh(Image: Google / Local Democracy Reporting Service)
A solar farm the size of 55 football pitches is set to get the green light – despite residents’ pleas to “leave our Marsh alone”. Some fear it will spoil the Romney Marsh’s unique landscape and argue that constructing the panels on “good agricultural land” is “unforgivable”.
But developers insist the 16-megawatt facility, which can power more than 10,000 homes a year, will “strengthen the ecosystem – not damage it”. Energy firm Environmena’s proposals are being recommended for approval at a meeting of Folkestone and Hythe District Council’s (FHDC) planning committee on Tuesday evening.
The 40-hectare site off St Mary’s Road, opposite Marten Farm, is currently in “agricultural use” and will still be used for grazing after the panels are built. Planning documents submitted to the council by Environmena say: “The solar farm will support the rural economy through farm diversification, allowing continued agricultural use for sheep grazing and ensuring that decommissioning after the 40-year operational period will see the land returned to (at least) its current condition.”
As a large, sparsely populated and very flat area, Romney Marsh is a popular prospective location for solar energy facilities – much to the chagrin of residents. More than 80 have written to FHDC opposing Environmena’s plans for the farmland near St Mary in the Marsh.
Pamela Batt said: “While I fully support using solar panels to produce energy in the right locations, such as on roofs, car parks and existing brownfield or industrial sites, using good agricultural land for this purpose is unforgivable. The site at St Mary in the Marsh is a beautiful rural setting and changing its use would be totally out of keeping with the area.
“In addition, allowing it would set a dangerous precedent for future applications. It would destroy a large area of habitat for a variety of species and destroy the quality of the soil for generations to come. What hope will there be for tomorrow’s young farmers when there is no land left to farm?”
Leanne Etherington said: “Please leave our Marsh alone. We have an abundance of wildlife that live here and use the marsh as a home and food source.”
Louise Myatt also objected to the area’s “beautiful countryside and unique marshlands being destroyed forever with solar panels”. While the FHDC planning officers’ report stresses the decision is “finely balanced”, they say the farmland lost “is not the best and most versatile” – and that “significant weight” is given to the generation of clean energy.
Environmena’s chief development officer, Mark Harding, stresses that the project has had eight months of “rigorous consultation” with statutory consultees and planning officers. He says it will result in “a significant biodiversity net gain”, with a 388 per cent increase in hedgerow units, 81 per cent increase in habitat units and 28 per cent increase in watercourse units.
Mr Harding also says the land will be carefully managed to restore and enhance habitats through native planting, wildflower meadows and ecological monitoring. “Our plans will strengthen the local ecosystem – not damage it,” he added.
“This project will make a meaningful contribution to the UK’s net-zero ambitions while delivering real and lasting benefits for the local environment and community. It will also support Folkestone & Hythe District Council’s declared climate and ecological emergency commitments, helping accelerate the transition to renewable energy, cut carbon emissions and enhance biodiversity in line with the council’s ‘net-zero by 2030’ objectives and wider district‐wide climate action goals.”
