Dear Resident/Neighbour

Thrift Solar Farm, next to Tawney Common, EPF/1216/25

We are writing to you to let you know that the full planning application for the solar farm in our neighbouring parish of Stapleford Tawney has been lodged. 

A similar letter to this is being distributed among the Stapleford Tawney residents.

Any comments, for or against, by members of the public should be submitted as soon as possible as the deadline is July 16th.

TMPC will be objecting to the proposal, for many reasons, but it’s very important for individuals to send in their views as well – the more the better. 

You can comment/support/object through the eppingforestdc.gov.uk website, OR by email to appcomment@eppingforestdc.gov.uk, OR by letter to Development Control, EFDC Civic Offices, High Street, Epping, CM16 4BZ.

In your email or letter, make sure you include the number EPF/1216/25, the site address (it comes up as Land east of Tawney Common), your name, address, and the date. 

A key point to note is that anonymous comments will probably be ignored, as will identical duplicate letters.

To find the application on the EFDC website, use the search box to put in EPF/1216/25.  You can also just put it in your Google search engine and it should take you straight there.

Please read as much of it as you can – there are 49 associated documents!  If you only read one, make it the Planning Statement inc LPA EIA Opinion for a general overview.  Then any others, especially which relate to matters you are concerned about.  (See overleaf.)

Click on Comment and follow the instructions.  In your comment:

  • State your credentials. Relevant qualifications or knowledge, if you have any.  Ecology, wildlife, heritage etc.  Or special interest – walker, cyclist, or horse rider.  It might just be how close you live to the development or that you visit the Dog House!
  • Focus on planning-related issues – some things that seem important to us are not planning-related. See overleaf for valid issues.
  • Be specific and factual – don’t make emotional or vague assertions without evidence.
  • Be concise, use sub-headings to organise your points. There’s a list of valid points overleaf, but there’s no need for everyone to comment on all of them.  The EFDC Case Officer already has to read through huge quantities of material – make it easy for him! 
  • You can include photos or other evidence to support your claims.

Comments become public documents and will be published online, so don’t include anything confidential or abusive.

We and STPC have heard from many objectors, but so far, no supporters have lodged comments.

Therefore, we have focussed and noted below the valid grounds for objection. The list isn’t exhaustive, so there are probably other good reasons to comment which we haven’t included (e.g., Batteries and Containers).

The cable route to the sub-station at Wintry Park Farm north of Epping will be a separate application.  We’ve been told it will use existing roads and rights of way, which we think make it 4.64 miles or 7.47 km away.

KEY AREAS – there will be others

Visual impact on the Landscape:

How it will impact the landscape, especially from residences, public footpaths, or heritage sites?  Or from the roadside for slower-moving users like walkers, cyclists, and horse-riders?  See Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment and LVIA, Landscape Enhancement & Mitigation Plan

Loss of agricultural land:

Land classified as “best and most versatile” (Grades 2 and 3a) has been assessed on 52.5% of the site. See Agricultural Land Classification   

Impact on wildlife:

Have you spotted any rare or protected species?  Do you have factual details of the local wildlife habitats?  See Ecological Impact Assessment

Noise and Glare:

Panels themselves make no noise, but the inverters do, and so do cooling fans in hot weather.  Driving in huge numbers of metal piles during construction will be extremely noisy.   See Noise Impact Assessment and Glint and Glare Study

Heritage Assets (mainly the cluster of Listed Buildings around the pub and Woodhatch):

How will it affect their setting?  See Heritage Statement.

Community impact:

Will it have a detrimental effect on the local community?  Examples might be traffic during construction and cable-laying, or impact on local amenities e.g., the pub, footpaths, bridleways.

See the Construction Traffic Management Plan and the Habitat Regulations Assessment for the route through Toot Hill/Epping Road, and the numbers of articulated lorries.

Planning policy:

See the relevant sections of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and the EFDC Local Plan.  You may think the proposal conflicts with some of the policies.

It is important to note that the reports quoted above have all been written by people engaged and paid for by the site promoters, Ib Vogt.  However, they are obliged to use qualified professionals for the factual information.  They have been preparing over many months, maybe years, and we only have until July 16th to comment!

Deadline

The official deadline is July 16th, so if you care about your community, please make an effort to comment!  Otherwise, the planning committee will assume you don’t care either way.

BUT… if you’re unable to make the deadline for some reason, please still submit your comment.  They are obliged to take into consideration all comments received, up to shortly before the planning committee meets.  We don’t yet know when that meeting will be, but we’ll get a fortnight’s advance notice.

However, the Case Officer needs to present a summary of all the comments to the committee, and he’ll probably start work on that as soon as the deadline’s passed so, for or against, send yours in soon – the sooner the better.

What has this got to do with us?  Them today, us tomorrow?

 

If you have any questions, please contact us on theydonmountparishcouncil@gmail.com