SAY NO TO THE

FAQs answered

Do we support Green Energy?

We are not an anti-solar campaign. We consider solar farms should be appropriately located on already industrialised land, on roof tops or adjacent to motorways, not on productive agricultural land, or in an area which will cause significant visual impact to the residents and those further afield who visit the area. There is already a wind turbine on the proposed site which contributes to the Grid, which has been operational since 2014.

The 100 acres proposed development is totally inappropriate for a site so close to residential properties. The visual impact of such a huge industrial solar farm would fundamentally change the tranquil character of the area.

How will it impact on residents living adjacent to the site boundary?

There are a number of residential properties located close to the site boundary, with one property less than a metre from the proposed site. The development will have a significant adverse visual impact to these properties.

It will cause visual dominance of solar farms, and loss of rural views; noise from inverters and batteries; safety risks from electrical installations, privacy intrusion from security infrastructure; and environmental degradation, including impacts on bats, owls, deer, and local biodiversity.

The construction stage will last many months and will involve articulated lorries, HGV’s and vans transporting materials to site. The access route to the site hasn’t been confirmed, but the area will be significantly impacted by the noise and vibration caused by the very large increase in HGV traffic during the construction phase.

How will it impact on the landscape?

The solar farm would significantly adversely impact the character and appearance of the landscape. The expansive tranquil landscape of open fields with far reaching views would turn into a semi-industrial, utility-grade power complex, with fields of high dark solar panels, shipping containers containing electrical equipment and security fencing. It will degrade the quality of the local landscape. The development will be located in a tranquil area and the noise emission associated with the solar farm will be excessive.

Overall, it will have a disproportionate and adverse effect on the rural landscape in an area designated as an Area of Great Landscape Value.

How will it the proposed development contravenes Cornwall local plans?

In Particular:

 
• Policy 2 says any new development should ‘respect and enhance the quality of place’ ensuring that the design of the development is high quality and demonstrates a cultural physical and aesthetic understanding of the location.
 
• Policy 14 (Renewable and Low Carbon Energy): Supports renewable energy proposals, provided they avoid unacceptable harm to local landscapes, biodiversity, and residential amenity.
 
• Policy 23 (Natural Environment): Requires development to respect and enhance the character of the landscape and protect biodiversity.
 
• Policy 12 (Design) & Policy 16 (Health & Wellbeing): Emphasise the importance of protecting residential amenity, particularly regarding noise and privacy.
 
• Policy 21 (Best Use of Land): Encourages efficient and sustainable land use, but also requires that the character of the area and neighbouring uses are respected.
 
• Climate Emergency DPD (2023): Strengthens support for renewables but continues to require that projects mitigate and minimise harmful impacts.
 

How does it adversely impact on the Lanreath Neighbourhood Plan?

Policy EH1 (Environment and Heritage): Prohibits development that adversely affects Areas of Great Landscape Value (AGLV), biodiversity, Cornish hedges, mature trees, and heritage assets.

Policy EE1 (Energy & Carbon): Encourages small-scale renewables with local support. Large-scale solar developments, such as this, are not considered suitable unless there is demonstrable community backing.

Vision Statement: Emphasises conserving and enhancing the natural environment and rural landscape. The development contradicts this core principle.

Community Feedback: The local plan was informed by extensive consultation. Residents expressed strong opposition to large-scale PV farms that would erode landscape character or impact wellbeing.

What is the impact on food security?

It is very important to prevent good quality land being lost to development to allow food to be grown in the UK and to reduce the reliance on imported food. The proposed development includes land that is in categories, 2b, 3a and 3b; therefore this should be protected for agricultural use only.

What will be the impact on wildlife?

Large solar farms such as that being proposed for Lanreath, have the potential to have a negative effect on the land which could have dire consequences for our local wildlife.

The area is home to robins, thrushes, chiffchaffs, wrens, redstarts, chaffinch, skylarks, warblers, blue tits, great tits, ravens, pheasants, buzzards and jays, amongst others.

It will have an impact on local nature, such as bats, birds of prey, owls based in the location, as well as deer that access the proposed site.

What is the impact on heritage sites?

Given the extent of the proposed solar array, this development is likely to be visible across a very large area and could negatively impact heritage assets near the site. This includes the Iron Age Settlement on Bury Down and the Giants Hedge in Lanreath.

We consider the proposed development contravenes Local Plans which state that proposals affecting a heritage asset, or its setting, should protect or enhance those features which contribute to its special architectural or historic interest.

Will the Lanreath Solar farm mean cheaper energy for local people?

The power generated will go into the National Grid. It won’t directly benefit the residents locally or across Cornwall. Solar generated electricity is under the control of providers and not necessarily sold more cheaply.

The proposed lease of the site would be for a period of 50 years which is a considerable period of time. The construction of a solar farm the size of the proposed development at Lanreath will cost millions of pounds and it is very unlikely that the site will ever be returned to its current agricultural use, therefore there is no weight to any claims that the development is temporary and can be reversed.