History
BNRG Langmead wants to build a VAST solar site equivalent to 76 football pitches on BMV agricultural land which includes a designated Wildlife Corridor.
Chichester District Council's Planning Committee met twice to assess the application REFUSING it on Weds 7th May 9 votes to 3. BNRG Langmead APPEALED that democratic decision.
An Appeal Hea
BNRG Langmead wants to build a VAST solar site equivalent to 76 football pitches on BMV agricultural land which includes a designated Wildlife Corridor.
Chichester District Council's Planning Committee met twice to assess the application REFUSING it on Weds 7th May 9 votes to 3. BNRG Langmead APPEALED that democratic decision.
An Appeal Hearing took place on 11th March 2026. The Planning Inspector allowed the appeal. SMART-FFF challenged this decision resulting in it being quashed. A new Planning Inspector will review the proposal again at a Public Inquiry in February 2027.
Public Inquiry
A new Planning Inspector will assess the proposal anew at a Public Inquiry in February 2027.
Chichster District Council decided at its 7th October Planning Committee meeting NOT to defend its refusal of this project on the grounds of costs potentially being awarded against it.
SMART FFF has been approved as a Rule 6 Party
Documentation he
A new Planning Inspector will assess the proposal anew at a Public Inquiry in February 2027.
Chichster District Council decided at its 7th October Planning Committee meeting NOT to defend its refusal of this project on the grounds of costs potentially being awarded against it.
SMART FFF has been approved as a Rule 6 Party
Documentation here:
Application
This proposal is NOT appropriately located and will industrialise this part of North Mundham Parish
CDC's Local Plan states in its Vision for Places for the Manhood Peninsula that "....a selective and sensitive approach to development will be taken."
24/01859/FUL is neither selective or sensitive in what is a tranquil and deeply rural place
This proposal is NOT appropriately located and will industrialise this part of North Mundham Parish
CDC's Local Plan states in its Vision for Places for the Manhood Peninsula that "....a selective and sensitive approach to development will be taken."
24/01859/FUL is neither selective or sensitive in what is a tranquil and deeply rural place. Centuries old, open agricultural landscape will be harmed.
VAST SOLAR FARM PLANNED FOR SOUTH MUNDHAM
BNRG Langmead (a joint venture between the 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.
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. This isn't just about a few, well thousands upon thousands upon thousands, solar panels likely imported from China. It's about the damage to irreplaceable habitats, the erosion of local agriculture, and the loss of wide open countryside that gives this area its' unique character.
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 ill-conceived and poorly located project.
INDUSTRIALISATION OF THE COUNTRYSIDE
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 also very noisy.
[Image above is a CGI visualisation next to Camic Pond at the junction of Runcton Lane and Bowley Lane]
BMV FIELDS SHOULD TO BE USED TO GROW FOOD
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 risking our food security.
PROPOSED SITE WILL BE SURROUNDED BY 2M HIGH FENCING & CCTV CAMERAS
The Site will be secured by a 50mm tensile galvanised wire mesh 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.
STRATEGIC WILDLIFE CORRIDOR
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."
SMART-FFF believes they have FAILED to do so.
THREAT TO WILDLIFE
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.
TRAFFIC WILL GET WORSE & USERS OF LANES WILL BE PUT AT RISK
BNRG Langmead proposes to to deliver components through North Mundham from the B2166 using Church Lane, Fisher Lane, Manor Lane and Bowley Lane.
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 projects such as this should have "........no adverse impact on highways safety."
Rich and Varied Wildlife Enjoy this Tranquil area
Resident water voles in Camic Pond
photo gallery
Roofs First - A No Brainer.....
Another day another Langmead seeking to cover BMV land with solar panels
Transport & Access Route
CGI visual shows view from Bowley Lane towads Camic Pond Year 1
CGI Visual showing the view Year 1 down Bowley Lane
CGI visual shows view from Camic Pond to Inverters and panels
CGI visual showing view from Runcton Lane to Bowley Lane - Year 1
Few passing places on Runcton Lane
Lots of interest in our stand at the North Mundham Gala on Saturday 6th July
Industrialisation of countryside
Threat to wildlife
Rows of panels 3m+ high on steel frames
2m high wire fencing and intrusive CCTV cameras spoiling rural setting
Bowley Lane has a history of traffic accidents