Rock star and local community fail to win fight against solar farm

Mike Rutherford, famed co-founder of Genesis and Mike and the Mechanics, was among local residents expressing frustration after plans for a 61-acre solar farm in West Sussex received approval. Chichester District Council gave the green light on Wednesday for the development near Wisborough Green, Billingshurst, an area roughly the size of 35 football fields.

Rutherford attended the council meeting alongside dozens of residents who opposed the proposal. The project also faced more than 170 formal objections and a petition signed by over 2,700 people.

The developer, Renewable Connections, stated that the project has been carefully planned over multiple years and will generate sufficient electricity to power up to 6,300 homes annually.

Residents voiced concerns about potential hazards for pedestrians and horse riders along local lanes, the impact on wildlife, and the visual footprint of the solar farm, describing it as "industrial in scale." Construction will bring over 900 heavy goods vehicle movements along Drungewick Lane over six months, averaging five to six per day.

Rutherford, a local resident, commented, While I support both farming and renewable energy, this location seems unusual. The lane sees heavy use by walkers, cyclists, and ridersit could be dangerous.

Other community members likened the fenced-off site to a prison camp. The solar installation will span six separate fields with panels standing 2.7 meters (8.8 feet) tall, with completion expected by 2027 and an operational lifespan of 40 years.

Phil Ingham, also from the area, remarked, Im disappointed but not surprised. Safety is a concern; the narrow lane cannot safely handle 32-ton trucks. Residents questioned why the developers did not prioritize brownfield or rooftop sites over green fields.

Chris Wates, whose family has owned some of the land since the 1950s, noted that most of the fields are not prime agricultural land and sheep will continue grazing within parts of the solar farm.

Jonathon Plumb, Chief Operations Officer at Renewable Connections, emphasized that the project followed extensive environmental studies, assessments, and design work. We engaged with the community and stakeholders to ensure the solar farm is suited to its surroundings, he said. The approved project could supply energy for up to 6,300 homes annually and reduce approximately 139,000 tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime.

Author: Lucas Grant