University Will Get Its Solar Farm Despite Widespread Objections

Published on: 7 Nov, 2024
Updated on: 7 Nov, 2024

Solar Panels Photo Beletric UK

By Martin Giles

A new 43 hectare solar farm with 22,410 solar panels is to be constructed on land designated green belt and, partly, an Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV), to the west of the University of Surrey.

After a debate, which lasted over an hour, the university was granted planning permission by Guildford Borough Council’s Planning Committee by nine votes to four with two abstentions.

The decision was taken despite objections from Worplesdon, Wanborough and Compton parish councils, 13 amenity groups including: Save Hogs Back, CPRE, Guildford Society, Guildford Residents Association, Farnham Society and over a hundred objections recorded on GBC’s planning portal.

Groups in favour were: Zero Carbon Guildford, Institute for Sustainability, University of Surrey and the University of Surrey Students’ Union.

There were four public speakers, two against and two for. The chairman of Compton Parish Council said his council approved of solar energy in principle but there, “was not a very special circumstance for green belt land and national landscape to be sacrificed for this development”.

John Goodridge, chairman of CPRE said: “The Hog’s Back is an iconic landscape feature of the Surrey Hills national landscape, and any development here would have to be well screened to avoid harm, which two landscape experts have already said is not possible for the southernmost part of the site.

He urged the council to consider long term implications adding: “This decision, if the solar plant is approved, it will open the flood gates for other schemes in other inappropriate locations.”

But Mr Rogers the planning agent for the scheme said: “In 2019 this council declared a climate emergency. Urgent action is required to address climate change, with the council and University of Surrey both setting 2030 Net Zero targets. If these are to be met, action is required now, not in the future.”

And Will Davies, chief operating officer of the University of Surrey added: “Delivering a third of our electricity needs from renewable energy is a huge contribution to net zero energy security and will also relieve pressure on the local grid, but we’re also committed to it from a financial sustainability and energy security perspective, our energy costs have soared from £4 million to £17 million per annum. This is simply unaffordable.

Cllr Howard Smith

When it came to the Planning Committee Howard Smith (Lab, Westborough) was unequivocally in favour of the scheme. He said: “This isn’t a difficult decision for me. I’m, to be honest, a little embarrassed that a town the size of Guildford, doesn’t have any solar farms yet, and very pleased to see at last, we’re going to get one.

“I’ve heard concerns about loss of farmland. There must be hundreds, if not thousands of fields in Guildford, and we’re devoting three to a solar farm. Come on, three out of hundreds. This is really not, not a credible argument to make. I think the thing with solar farms is, whether we like it or not, they are the future.”

Several councillors mentioned Little Misley field specifically. It is included in the scheme despite being designated AGLV and its possible candidature for National Landscape status [which used to be called “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”] as well as being considered from an agricultural perspective “best and most versatile land”.

Cllr Pat Oven

Cllr Pat Oven continued the agricultural theme saying he came from a different background to Cllr Smith: “I’m not as urban. He says “a few small fields”, but land of this quality is not common in Surrey”. He calculated that if permitted the scheme would remove 33 acres of the best and most versatile land from food production and added, “…we live in a time of insecurity. We need to grow food in this country, and therefore this application should be refused”.

However when it came to the vote only four councillors voted against.