Latest news with #Mendlesham
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Mendlesham White Elm solar farm put on pause 'indefinitely'
Plans for a new, large solar farm have been put on pause "indefinitely" by its project team. The 675-acre (275-hectare) plot of land near Mendlesham in Suffolk was earmarked for the White Elm project by Spanish firm Elmya RPC Grange Road Limited.A consultation began on Monday for several communities and was expected to run until 30 a statement on its project website, the firm said it had "taken a decision to pause development of the project indefinitely". The White Elm site, which also surrounds Wickham Skeith and Thwaite, sits five miles (8km) south of another proposed solar farm in Suffolk County Council said it would object to the proposal if high quality farmland was which was expected to submit its scheme to the local planning authority in 2026, had said the project would power more than 40,000 homes. Labour's Energy Secretary Ed Miliband was expected to have the final say on the Elm Solar Farm's statement added: "Please note that the ongoing non-statutory consultation has been cancelled with immediate effect."This includes the two public consultation events on Saturday 31st May and Wednesday 4th June." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Mendlesham White Elm solar farm consultation opens
Plans for a large new solar farm have gone out to consultation among several communities.A 675-acre (273-hectare) plot of land around Mendlesham, near Stowmarket, has been earmarked for the major White Elm Suffolk County Council said it would object to the proposal if high quality farmland was Spanish firm Elmya Energy, which is expected to submit plans in 2026, said it would power more than 40,000 homes a year. Labour's Energy Secretary Ed Miliband will have the final say on the plans. A consultation began on Monday and is due to run until 30 White Elm site, which also surrounds Wickham Skeith and Thwaite, sits five miles (8km) south of another proposed solar farm in Yaxley."I'm sure the reaction of many Suffolk residents will be 'here we go again'," said Conservative councillor Richard warned the application would move "very quickly" and urged residents to voice their concerns."Do object and give clear reasons why, but also make constructive suggestions to amend and improve the plans in case it goes ahead," Rout added. In a statement, the county council said solar farms "should not remove Suffolk's best quality farmland" from food have also been raised about where a substation would be built for the development, which is expected to have a 40-year lifespan.A spokesman for Elmya Energy said it was in the early stages of shaping the solar said a storage system was being created to retain any excess energy for "when the sun isn't shining"."If approved, White Elm Solar Farm would generate enough clean electricity to power over 40,000 typical family homes every year during its 40-year operational lifespan," he added. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
