History

BNRG Langmead (a joint venture between Langmead Group and Irish based BNRG Renewables) seeks to build a large solar installation on a 121 acre site (76 football pitches) in the Parish of North Mundham.

 https://publicaccess.chichester.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SI43HYERKIK00

SMART-FFF believes in renewable energy and how crucial it is in the fight against climate change. But not at any cost, certainly not when it goes against National Planning Policy which states the best agricultural land (BMV) should be avoided. 

Centuries-old landscapes, rich biodiversity, wonderful abundant wildlife and our rural way of life is under threat from this vast industrial-sized solar proposal. 

The wildlife that calls this place home will be catastrophically affected in the name of meeting Net Zero targets. This isn't just about a few, well thousands upon thousands upon thousands, solar panels likely imported from China using slave labour. It's about the damage to irreplaceable habitats, the erosion of local agriculture, and the loss of a countryside that gives this area its' unique character. As CDC states in its Local Plan

“….. protecting and enhancing the special qualities of the coast and its rural hinterland, which attracts residents, visitors and businesses to the area. In recognition of the semi-rural nature of some settlements and the proximity to internationally important wildlife habitats such as Pagham Harbour and Medmerry Realignment, a selective and sensitive approach will be taken.”

Simply put, there are better locations to site solar than B&MV land. This proposal sacrifices rural heritage for quick profits, with scant regard for the impact on the people, animals, and environment that will be harmed. 

We support renewables, but we cannot support this project.

 112 acres (70 football pitches) solar site proposed on the adjacent field know as Big Chop on land owned by Langmead and fronted by German solar company ILOS, will see North Mundham Parish completely overwhelmed by solar installations if approved by CDC.

https://publicaccess.chichester.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SRMHIKER0ZU00

   Enormous quantities of Solar PV panels will be attached to steel frames elevated approximately 0.6 metres from the ground at their front edge with an overall height at their back edge of 3 metres. 

The steel frame supports will be pile driven many metres into the ground. This is a very invasive and incredibly noisy process.

Transformer kiosks and inverters are required to alter the voltage of the electricity generated by the solar panels to a level compatible with the electricity grid. They are very noisy.

[Image above is a CGI visualisation next to Camic Pond at the junction of Runcton Lane and Bowley Lane]

• This project will deliver zero direct benefit to the local community - North Mundham, Pagham and Oving Parish Councils all OBJECT.
• Another proposal by a Langmead to build another solar installation  25/00369/EIA next to this one 24/01859/FUL would see a total of 233 acres of B&MV agricultural land taken out of food production. Such cumulative impact is unacceptable in an area that CDC's Local Plan has identified as requiring "sensitive' development.
• Significant disruption, noise and dust will be caused by the building of this site. 
• The recently submitted Transport & Access plan proposes to route construction traffic through North Mundham using Church Lane, Fisher Lane, Manor Lane and Bowley Lane. Traffic will get MUCH worse and the likelihood for accidents on these narrow, single Lanes with very few useable passing places, endangers walkers, cyclists (National Cycle Route), horse riders as well as any other vehicle drivers.
• Best & Most Versatile (B&MV) land will be taken out of use for at least 40 years with no guarantee it will ever be returned to agricultural use. 
• At pre application stage, CDC’s own Landscape Officer referred to the project’s "potential for some landscape harm to be caused due to its vast size and sensitivity of visual receptors." 
• The character of heritage assets and rural amenity WILL be significantly harmed. 
• The site is in a Special Scientific Interest (SSI) Risk Impact Zone for Pagham Harbour and Chichester/Langstone Harbour - Sussex Wildlife Trust and CPRE both OBJECT.
• The site sits in Flood Zones 2 & 3.
• A large proportion of the site is on a CDC designated Wildlife Corridor. 
• Renewable does not = zero carbon. The embedded carbon footprint (ECF) of a solar panel is 50gms of CO2 per kWh compared to a wind turbine’s 7.5gms.  And it is likely that the PV panels will be sourced from China which has a reputation of using slave labour https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yrg7pkzpxo

“We all recognise the need to ramp up renewables but ground-mounted solar doesn’t have to be in anybody’s backyard. If we used just a quarter of the 617,000 acres of south-facing commercial roofspace for solar we could generate 25GW, almost half the current target. We should put panels on commercial and industrial rooftops, infrastructure corridors and car parks. Our neighbours in Europe are way ahead on this – Germany and France have successfully harnessed rooftop solar and Italy has banned industrial-scale solar on farmland.”

“Not only have we been alarmed by their visual impact we have warned the government time and again that we cannot go on sacrificing prime farmland to solar power generation. When climate change and armed conflict are both impacting on food supplies right around the globe it is utter and complete folly. Improving our ability to feed ourselves from our own land must take priority.”

Karen Squibb-Williams, Chair of the UK Solar Alliance (UKSA)

“Renewable energy production is a core part of the NFU’s net zero plan and solar projects often offer a good diversification option for farmers. However, there is a need to strike a balance between food security and climate ambitions. It is important that large scale solar farm development is located on lower quality agricultural land, avoiding the most productive and versatile soils. Utilising roofs and farm buildings for solar should also be incentivised as it delivers a sustainable method of energy production while avoiding any land use conflict."

With reference to DEFRA's Land Use Consultation he further states.........“With competition for land ever increasing, and to deliver on the government commitment that food security is national security, we must have a land use plan in place, underpinned by sound science and evidence, that has British food at its heart and ensures we make the best use of our most productive agricultural land.”

NFU President Tom Bradshaw 

CDC's Local Plan - Policy 48 states that planning permission should only be granted if there is "no adverse effect on the openness of the views in and around the coast & the tranquil and rural character of the area."

 Compared to off-shore wind farms, solar farms are inefficient. One wind turbine typically produces the same electricity as approx. 200 acres of land. 

Solar farms produce the maximum amount of power during summer months when demand for electricity is at its lowest.

We are pro-solar but solar should NOT be built on this large scale on BMV land which risks our food security.

BNRG Langmead NOW proposes to to deliver components through North Mundham from the B2166 using Church Lane, Fisher Lane, Manor Lane and Bowley Lane. This is a short distance away from the new Dandara housing development where works have begun.

These lanes, as locals know, are single track with very few useable passing places and the side of the highway is rutted with deep potholes or close to overflowing ditches. 

It will take HGV's  past the listed Church  where the corner is typically tricky to navigate. Church Lane is routinely used by parents as a drop off/pick up spot for for the Primary School.

Traffic congestion (typical day on Runcton Lane shown above) will become much worse as a consequence and the risk of serious accidents will increase.

CDC's Local Plan - Policy 41 states that "There is no adverse impact on highways safety."

The proposed site includes a significant portion of CDC's proposed Wildlife Corridor which CDC approved £575,000 funding across five years, from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) at their 23rd November 2021 council meeting. In total, the project has funding of  £665,000, which includes £90,000 from Network Rail for enhancements where the railway crosses the corridors.

CDC's Environment Officer states that the applicant has to "....demonstrate that the proposal will not adversely affect the potential or value of the wildlife corridor." 

We believe they have FAILED to do so.

The Site will be secured by a 50mm tensile galvanised wire mesh deer type fencing 2 metres in height. 

Fixed CCTV cameras will be sited around the perimeter fence line. The applicant has not ruled out the use of drone surveillance.

Transitory animals have their traditional routes blocked and might injure themselves in confusion. They mIght also more frequently use the Lanes creating a risk to road users.

Years of construction presents a huge risk to the delicate ecosystem of wildlife in the area because of the significant increase in vehicle traffic, use of construction equipment making a lot of noise/causing vibration and the loss of their current feeding and resting habitats.