ECOE wants to clarify the situation regarding previously saying the ground mount solar opportunity involved no high grade agricultural land. We initially thought the offer involved a 5MW site (originally 7.5MW including Grade 2 land) + a 4MW site ie the Grade 2 land had been taken out. We had previously sent a support email on that basis for the planning appeal.
However, later, we realised that the appeal was for the original planning application for 7.5MW.
In investigating the significance of grading of agricultural land, we also realised high quality agricultural land includes Grade 1, 2 and 3a. We spoke to several people within the community energy field involved in ground mount solar and found different people say very different things about the significance of the grading and the impact on agricultural land by solar farms. We were told there are community-owned solar farms on Grade 2 land.
Given the complexity of the issues ECOE decided to support the appeal on the basis of the benefits of shared ownership, community-owned renewable resources and the benefit to ECOE of achieving our aims given how difficult it has been to progress Solar PV 1, our rooftop project. We decided to make no comment on the grading of agricultural land and the impact on agricultural productivity leaving this to the experts who would be present.
