As a small group of villagers from Ashorne, Lighthorne and Moreton Morrell, we have got together to object to the Deeres Leap proposed planning application for yet another solar farm, which impacts on our villages with NO energy benefits to local residents.

None of us are against the principle of solar energy development, but strongly feel that solar farms need to be built in the right place, on roofs of industrial and commercial buildings, as well as houses, but not concentrated in major clusters destroying huge swathes of the rural countryside in a concentrated area of the district, impacting on food production and people’s lives.

We already have 23 solar farm sites in Stratford-on-Avon District alone, either in the planning, constructing or operational status and there are over 1000 acres of solar farms within five miles of Moreton Morrell and Lighthorne parishes alone! 

Warwick District is equally well supplied and there are plans to build a 49.99 MW site at Radford Semele just down the road which is over 242 acres! Incidentally this is conveniently just short of a 50MW site which would require the Secretary of State to make the final decision on its development.

The National Planning Policy Framework includes strong protections for the natural and historic environment, however, meeting our energy goals should not be used to justify the wrong development in the wrong location, and this includes the unnecessary use of food producing agricultural land.

The planning application ref no is: 24/02072/FUL and further details can be found by clicking HERE. 

Letters or emails objecting to these proposals are to be sent to planning.applications@stratford-dc.gov.uk

quoting above planning reference no.