Baylham: Campaigners hopeful rejected solar firm Eco Energy World will “see sense” and withdraw plans

Residents of Baylham attending a previous public meeting in the village hall to discuss plans for a 50-acre solar farm (Image: Archant)

Eco Energy World’s bid to build a solar farm over 95-acres of land in Tattingstone was dismissed on Monday. A planning inspector rejected the company’s arguments put forward in the appeal made in the name of Hive Energy.

That company was also behind the blueprint for the 127-acre solar farm at Hacheston, near Framlingham, which also lost an appeal, two weeks ago.

An Eco Energy World spokeswoman said she would expect planners to take its application for a 50-acre solar farm in Baylham, near Needham Market, on its own “individual merits”.

But John Field, county councillor for Gipping Valley and chair of Baylham Parish Meeting, is one of the objectors to those plans. He said: “It certainly raises the hope that the district council and the proposers will see sense and move from this site to something appropriate.

“We will do whatever it takes, we would obviously rather that the cost to ourselves, to the district council and to the company were not incurred – it’s throwing good money after bad – but if that is what it takes, we are prepared to go as far as necessary.”

Hive Energy were also behind the initial plans, which have since been revised, for Hill Farm, Baylham.

Dan Poulter, MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, said: “At this stage the planning application is a matter for Mid Suffolk District Council, although I was contacted last week by Baylham residents and I will be meeting with them to discuss their concerns.”

The Eco Energy World spokeswoman said the firm was now waiting on Mid Suffolk to decide how it would be heard. She said: “Agricultural land which cannot be used for building can be used for solar panels which are temporary.”