Click here to object to the Beane Valley Solar Farm planning application
Munches Farm Solar Farm and Battery Storage Plant - Cumberlow Green, Westfield Energy Conservation ParK
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The planning application will relate to the development and building of a 530 acre solar farm generation plant to include a co-located Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on Munches Farm, Cumberlow Green, Hertfordshire. This location is next door to the proposed Beane Valley Solar Farm by developer Renewable Energy Systems Ltd (RES).
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For information on the Beane Valley Solar Farm please click here.
​The developer, Lightrock Power Limited, is at the initial stage of their planning application programme - community consultation and are working towards a planning application submission to North Hertfordshire District Council by spring 2025. Obscurely the developers project name for the solar plant is Westfield Energy Conservative Park. ​​​
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The developers pre-application community consultation will run from the 25th February - 28th March 2025. Coming soon Lightrock's community consultation to include:
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Webinar - 6pm-7pm, Tuesday 25th March 2025, sign up at: www.westfieldenergyconservationpark.com
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Public exhibition - 3pm-7pm, Tuesday 18th March 2025, Rushden Village Hall, Church End, Rushden, SG9 0SQ
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Online Survey - details to be confirmed.
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The developers are engaging with North Hertfordshire District Council to understand what environmental surveys they will require Lightrock Power Limited to undertake.
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Ahead of their Westfield Energy Conservation Park consultation launch Lightrock Power Limited are writing to elected officials, parish councils, nearby residents and relevant organisations representing the local communities.
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​​​​Join us to keep up to date with all the latest news regarding the Munches Solar Plant planning application.
How You Can Help
Westfield Energy Conservation Park community consultation, please attend these events to ensure your voice is heard:
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Webinar - 6pm-7pm, Tuesday 25th March 2025, sign up at: www.westfieldenergyconservationpark.com
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Public Exhibition - 3pm-7pm, Tuesday 18th March 2025, Rushden Village Hall, Church End, Rushden, SG9 0SQ
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Online Survey - details to be confirmed.
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​Let us ensure that our community voice is heard and our concerns are taken into account before any irreversible damage is done, please sign the community petition to protect the Beane Valley.
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Our community is raising funds to support the campaign against the Beane Valley Solar Farm planning applications. Your contributions will go towards essential costs such as community outreach efforts, environmental impact assessments and legal fees. Every donation, no matter how small, helps protect the Beane Valley.
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Join Us on JustGiving
We’ve partnered with JustGiving to make it easy for you to contribute. Simply visit our JustGiving page and make a donation. You can also share the campaign with your friends, family, and social networks to help spread the word.
The Munches Farm Solar Farm Planning Application
The Munches Farm Solar Farm located at Cumberlow Green, Westfield Energy Conservation Park, is a planning proposal on prime agricultural farmland and the nature of the landscape will make it highly visible. Why here?​
The proposal will have an operational lifespan of 40 years, after which the site will be decommissioned.
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The Westfield Energy Conservation Park proposed solar development is located within the blue shaded area on the map opposite and is approximately 530 acres of land.
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The solar farm developer, Lightrock Power Limited, has chosen this site because it is a low cost option to connect to the electricity network and is suitable for the rapid construction of large scale ground mounted solar panels and battery storage infrastructure. This is not a good enough reason and planning officers must refuse planning permission due to the significantly harmful impact it would have on the landscape.
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Energy generated by the solar farm would be fed into the national grid rather than directly benefiting local residents.
Objection Reasons to Westfield Energy Conservation Park - Munches Solar Farm Planning Application
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Protected Heritage Assets
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Local Landscape/Visual impact rolling hills
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Wildlife routes
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Red list birds
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Countryside Stewardship Scheme
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High quality agricultural land
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Land Gradient, North slopes
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Increased Flood risk
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Rising local water tables
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Chalk Stream
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High Ground water Vulnerability to Pollutants as designated by the BGS.
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Current road access
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New road access
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Transport impacts during construction on A507 HGV Ban.
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Next to Residential Housing
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Noise - inverters & Batteries
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Permanent Development
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Greenfield site
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Land regrading / Soil Removal
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Land beyond Green Belt
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Solar Panel disposal
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Battery Fires
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Oversized development only 210 Acres for 50MW
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Drinking Water Safeguard zone
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Cycle Route 10
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Impact on Tourism and Local Business
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No Benefit to local Community - loss of rural amenities.
“Deciding to Act May Take a While; Much Longer Than the Action Itself.”
Working Together to Protect Rural Landscapes, Wildlife & Residents