Solar Farm Ridge

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Dear Sir/Madam Subject: Planning Application 25/1023/FUL Construction of a solar farm (temporary for 40 years) with access off Earls Lane. Land North Of Earls Lane South Mimms Hertfordshire I wish to object to planning application 25/1023/FUL. for the reasons below Enviromena has a full planning application under consideration with HBC Planning to develop for 40 years a 98 acre solar plant on high quality agricultural farmed land between the historic and attractive character villages of Ridge and South Mimms. This objection should be taken as my separate and individual representation in accordance with your agreed policy and procedures. 1. Loss of Green Belt: The site is located on land designated by the adopted Hertsmere Core Strategy as Green Belt where solar development is regarded as inappropriate unless Very Special Circumstances (VSC) can be demonstrated according to the National Planning Policy Framework ( NPPF 153, 160). ARUPs Hertsmere Green Belt Assessment conducted for Hertsmere District Council concluded that this site performs strongly overall against Green Belt purposes. The Applicant has not offered any clear VSC. 2. Negative Landscape Impact: The proposed development would be to devastate and materially reduce the openness of these rural agrarian countryside landscape views, to industrialise the landscape and to change land use from food production to an industrial energy plant (NPPF 142). 3. Loss of Productive Farmland & Food Security The land is classified as Best and Most Versatile land (BMV) according to DEFRA – the NPPF para 187b states that planning decisions "should recognise the economic and other benefits of BMV land" 4. Site Access inadeqaute: There is a single access point to the proposed site – Earls Lane is a single track country lane with no "passing places" and no pedestrian footpaths, which will presents a significant traffic and road safety issue during the 9 month construction period – to residents, emergency vehicles, pedestrians, equestrians and visiting walkers. NPPF 115 states that "safe and suitable site access be achieved for all users". 5. Fire Safety risk: Hertfordshire's Fire Safety Team have said the proposal is not safe,with "a failure to provide fundamental provision, such as: suitable access to and around the site, fire-fighting water supplies, and fire breaks to mitigate unchecked fire spread (NPPF 102). 6. Lack of Solar Connection & Storage: The predicted energy generation for this project is likely to be over optimistic- there is no energy storage capability proposed. Alternative sites have not been explored. The national policy statement EN-3 ( Renewable Energy Infrastructure) states solar sites should be near existing grid infrastructure capable of taking the output, to reduce transmission losses, cost and environmental destruction. This site does not offer high grid connectivity nor we understand are permissions in place for connection (NPPF 153). 7. Heritage loss This development does not in any way preserve or contribute to the setting of this historic area and its many listed heritage sites eg. St Giles Church, Church of St Margaret's, Knightsland Farm House, Brewers Almhouses, Tyttenhanger House, Rabley Park Farm House (NPPF 208). 8. RSPCA Southridge Animal Centre effects: No sound survey of the levels and frequencies that may affect the species at the RSPCA Southridge Animal Centre has been carried off to show that this development would not be a unallowable agent of change for the animal centre (NPPF 200). Yours sincerely

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