Renewable energy at lowest cost to the consumer¹

Tackling climate change by supporting the UK’s target of net zero by 2050

Specifically designed to be dual purpose, combining continued agricultural use and renewable generation

Quick to deploy

Modern, efficient technology allowing more electricity generation in less space

Diversification of agricultural business

Significant biodiversity enhancement opportunities, supporting new & existing plant & animal habitats

High level of public support²

Over the last few months, we have been refining the design of the solar farm and a number of design changes have been made as a direct result of community feedback, along with the results of site surveys and assessments.

We have made a number of significant improvements to the project, including:

• 17% reduction in the size of the site boundary
• 23% reduction in solar modules
• 1.7km of permissive paths providing over 220% increase in walking routes
• 17 acres of Skylark Nesting Habitat within the site
• Improved proposed delivery route
• 6 month construction programme (reduced from 12 months)
• New permissive path between Hall Road and Clarke’s Lane (north)
• New permissive path between Clarke’s Lane and Angles Way/Byway 16
• Around 40 acres removed from western section to reduce potential visibility from residential properties along Mill Lane and Mill Common
• Incorporated specialist aviation advice in relation to Church Farm Airstrip 

The plan to the right shows the May 2023 design in comparison to the preliminary designs presented at our public exhibition in November 2022

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The plan to the right shows the updated layout for Shipmeadow Solar Farm which will be capable of producing 40MW of clean and renewable electricity.

The updated design takes into account feedback from the local community and stakeholders, as well as the results of site surveys and assessments.

The design takes into account the following:

• 5m buffer from all existing and proposed hedgerows/trees
• 5m buffer from all existing watercourses and drainage ditches and 10m buffer from all ponds
• A minimum width for existing and new footpaths, of 3m. This is considerably wider than the 1m to 1.5m widths requested by Suffolk County Council
• A minimum 100m buffer between residential properties and solar infrastructure
• A minimum 200m buffer between residential properties and solar inverters
• 17 acres of Skylark Nesting Habitat

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RES design their solar farms so that they will fit sensitively in the surrounding landscape.

As part of the planning process, RES carries out a number of detailed technical and environmental surveys to ensure any potential impact upon the environment, landscape, heritage and local residents is appropriately assessed and mitigated. These assessments include:

• Landscape and Visual Effects
• Archaeology and Cultural Heritage
• Ecology and Biodiversity Net Gain
• Agricultural Land Classification
• Transport and Access
• Flood risk and Drainage
• Glint and Glare
• Arboriculture
• Noise
• Cumulative Effects

The results of these surveys, along with feedback from the local community and stakeholders, are taken into account as the design of the solar farm is refined and finalised. The assessments will accompany any planning application that is made.

The plan to the right shows a concept masterplan which identifies the key elements of the Landscape and Environmental Management Plan (LEMP). The LEMP will specify significant amounts of new hedgerows, infill planting, screen planting, feathered trees and ecological enhancement measures. These build on the existing landscaping and the existing and proposed walking routes throughout the site.

Shipmeadow Solar Farm will deliver a minimum of 100% biodiversity net gain for habitat areas due to the species rich grassland throughout the whole site and the 17 acres of Skylark Nesting Habitat areas. Furthermore, there will be a 75% biodiversity net gain for hedgerow areas delivered by the project which will provide additional foraging habitats for common birds, breeding habitat for Yellowhammer and habitats for bats and badgers.

The LEMP, which will accompany any planning application will include the specification of planting schedule, timing and aftercare requirements, and a maintenance schedule.

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RES understands the concerns raised by the local community regarding the use of the local road network during the construction stage of the project. The proposed delivery route has been carefully considered to minimise potential disruption from construction traffic.

The plan to the right shows the delivery routes currently under consideration.

The May 2023 design incorporates significant improvements when compared to the preliminary design presented in November 2022. A new access directly off the B1062 Hill Road will allow construction traffic to access the western section directly onto the solar farm. This access will accommodate the majority of construction traffic required for the entire project.

The delivery route to the eastern section will utilise the existing access to the Ilketshall Substation via the A144, Top Road, Tooks Common and Clarke’s Lane (south). The May 2023 design avoids construction traffic on Banters Lane, Hall Road and Clarke’s Lane (north) and enables a shorter construction programme.

A Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) is being developed to support any future planning application. The CTMP outlines the overall framework for managing the safe movement of construction and delivery traffic as well as itemising the expected number of traffic movements and timing restrictions.

The traffic movements will be limited to avoid morning and evening peak times, where possible. The construction stage will incorporate a “booking system” to schedule the deliveries to the eastern section, further minimising potential disruption on Tooks Common and Clarke’s Lane. There will also be a dedicated Community Liaison Officer to engage with local residents throughout the construction and operational phases, if the solar farm is consented.

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RES understands the importance of the Public Rights of Way (PRoW) to the local community. At our public exhibition in November 2022, we presented indicative locations for additional new Permissive Paths to enhance the existing PRoW network. The plan below shows the existing PROWs and the updated locations for 3 new Permissive Paths, as informed by feedback from the local community and stakeholders.

Permissive Path A is a new path to connect Clarke’s Lane (north) with PRoW Footpath No.11 and Hall Road. This is a direct response to public consultation feedback from November 2022. Information boards will be included along this path to link into local educational programmes and initiatives.

Permissive Path B is a new path incorporating a drainage ditch crossing to connect PRoW Footpath No.12 with the Angles Way. This new path will achieve a much shorter walking route onto the Angles Way and between Shipmeadow and Ilketshall St Andrew.

Permissive Path C is a new path around the western and southern perimeter of the project which in combination with Permissive Path B enhances connectivity with the Angles Way.

All existing PRoW will be retained and enhanced with the addition of 1.7km of new Permissive Paths proposed as part of the Shipmeadow Solar Farm project. This is an increase in walking routes within the site of 220%.

All existing PRoW and the new Permissive Paths will be a minimum width of 3m. This is considerably wider than the minimum widths of 1m and 1.5m requested by the Suffolk County Council PROW Officer. There will then be a series of buffers applied between the PRoW and the solar infrastructure. For example, a buffer between the path and the boundary fence to allow for hedgerow and wildflower planting, and another buffer between the boundary fence and the solar infrastructure.

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Click on image to enlarge

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Solar PV panels are typically made from silicon, which is a great semi-conductor, installed in a fixed metal panel frame with a glass casing.

The sun gives off light, even on cloudy days, and when these light particles, or photons, hit the thin layer of silicon on the top of a solar panel, they knock electrons off the silicon atoms which creates a direct current (D C) of electricity. This is captured by the wiring in the solar panels.

This DC electricity is then converted to alternating current (AC) by an inverter which is then funnelled into the grid network. AC is the type of electrical current used when you plug appliances into normal wall sockets.

Bifacial modules have two sides of solar cells, enabling additional energy generation from the diffuse light reflected off the grass, on the rear-side of the panels.

In most cases solar panels are recyclable and there are well established industrial processes to do this. There are organisations around the UK and Europe specialising in solar recycling, such as PV Cycle and the European Recycling Platform.

They are working with solar developers to minimise electrical waste and recycle old panels in line with the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations.

Any written consultation feedback submitted to RES, on the updated design, will be considered by the project team as the design is finalised, in addition to feedback from statutory consultees and the final results of the technical and environmental studies.

Please provide feedback by 9th June 2023.

Once a final design is achieved, RES aim to submit a planning application, to East Suffolk Council, later this year. The planning application will be supported by an Environmental Impact Assessment. RES will also be submitting an application under the Commons Act 2006 Section 38 for temporary works.