Danbury solar farm backed by city council

The march of the solar farms continues, with an 86-acre plant at Danbury winning planning permission from Chelmsford City Council.
The site’s developer, Low Carbon, says the site, which will lie in two parts either side of a quarry, will produce power for some 7,300 homes.
The proposal had been criticised by Danbury Parish Council, which claimed it would give an “industrialised aspect to a gateway village”, but the city council cited the “recognised need” and the fact it would contribute towards Essex’s renewable-energy sources.
“The main benefit arising of the scheme is the contribution to the production of renewable energy and consequential reduction in CO2 emissions,” said a city council spokesman.
The local authority did, however, impose the condition that the site – known as St Clere’s – be returned to agricultural use at the end of the development’s 40-year lifespan. It also stated that if it failed to export electricity to the grid for a year it would have to be dismantled.

• To read the CPRE Essex policy statement on solar farms, click here