The BBC has recently published an article about the negative impacts that solar farms “triple the size of Gatwick” will have on an area of Romney Marsh. CPRE, also known as The Countryside Charity, has raised concerns about the damage large-scale solar farms cause to British wildlife, especially in unique and fragile habitats. The three energy companies responsible for this proposed plan are SSE Renewables (SSE), EDF Power Solutions UK/PS Renewables and Low Carbon.
This would be the largest solar farm ever proposed for Kent, with the potential to generate enough power to serve 20% of the county’s homes. The process itself will be long, as any solar farm of 50MW or more must obtain government development consent. This new solar farm at Romney Marsh has been revealed as a 500MW facility.
The environmental impact report for the project is expected to be released in spring 2026 with SSE Renewables spokesperson saying: “This report will provide a detailed assessment of our project proposals covering a range of important topics including visual impact, landscape, land use, local heritage, and biodiversity, and we will make this report available to the public for review once it’s published.”
Andrea Griffiths, CPRE Kent director, has said: “The transition to renewables does not need to come at the cost of the countryside,”. The work carried out will undoubtedly affect the large, open spaces the British countryside offers, but the UK is also pushing to meet its Net-Zero targets for 2050. The UK’s plans and progress toward net zero by 2025 have been released on the Parliament website, providing an overview of the background context for net zero, the plans in place to reach this goal, and current progress. Things that have challenged the progress of this initiative include ensuring that all plans are legally compliant and providing economic incentives. Read more about these plans on the House of Commons Library.
Members of CPRE are offering their ideas on how the UK can still implement these renewable solutions without damaging our countryside. The concept of installing solar panels on the rooftops of suitable domestic and industrial buildings or carparks has been suggested, stating that this method would efficiently deliver more than 60% of the government’s target. Would this be the way forward and a more environmentally friendly way to meet the UK’s Net Zero targets? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
