Low Carbon are Back!

On 30 January 2023 Low Carbon
re-applied to the Planning Inspectorate to build “Pelham Spring Solar Farm”

What has changed?
Not much! 2 small parcels of land will no longer be covered in panels.
You can see the new planning application here (new window).

PLEASE OBJECT NOW. Uttlesford’s decision to refuse the application may be over-turned if we do not object again. Objections must be lodged by Friday 10 March 2023

You can re-submit your previous objection CLICK HERE for details
or to submit a new objection please CLICK HERE for details
Reasons to object can be found in Point of Objection

Please Note

Berden is now facing TWO solar “farms” - the Planning Inspectorate is being asked to approve “Berden Hall Solar” AND “Pelham Spring” - it is not a case of “one or the other”

 This map shows the extent and the location of the proposed Pelham Spring development:



There is no need to destroy our countryside to fight Climate Change

Whilst no one can ignore the Climate Change crisis, Government Policy is clear.  Renewable energy for the UK should be provided by off-shore wind-power.  The Government has committed to generate enough wind power to supply every home in the country by 2030.  The Government supports the use of farm land for the production of food and encourages the use of land to capture carbon.  You can find out more about this here:

The proposed development is industrial!

If approved, “Pelham Spring Solar Farm” will be the biggest solar development in the district by some margin.  And it does not just comprise solar panels.  It will include: 26 containerised inverters; 40 containerised battery storage units a DNO substation and Customer substation.

Fancy a walk in solar farm?

The proposed site is currently crossed by 7 footpaths which benefit from glorious views across open countryside.  Would you be keen to walk along footpaths which were transformed into corridors between rows of 2m fence panels?  You can also expect “Danger of Death” signs at regular intervals along the fences

Expect huge lorries in the local area

All of the construction will arrive to the site along the road from Clavering to Manuden.  If the development goes ahead, we can expect 922 vehicle movements during construction.  This includes a total of around 749 deliveries by 15.4 metre articulated vehicles and of 59 deliveries by 10-metre-long rigid HGVs.  A substation measuring up to five metres long and three metres wide will be delivered to site by a 15.4 metre artic vehicle.

We can defeat this application!

Strong local opposition to the proposed development can make a huge difference.  Early in November a proposal to build a solar “farm” on 210 acres of Hertfordshire countryside between Radlett and Elstree was rejected in response to overwhelming public opposition to the scheme.  This follows the success of a local residents who defeated an application to build a solar “farm” in Cullompton in Devon in September.