Plans for a community-owned solar park to help power a village which was at the centre of Britain’s biggest anti-fracking protests have been approved.
Campaigners said the 5MW solar park would not only match the electricity demand of Balcombe in West Sussex but also the nearby village of West Hoathly.
In the summer of 2013, thousands of protesters descended on Balcombe after energy firm Cuadrilla started exploratory drilling for oil, sparking fears that it would go on to frack there.
In the wake of the controversy, Repower Balcombe was founded with the help of 10:10 with the aim of seeking to develop clean, locally-owned power.
Today a Mid Sussex District Council planning committee approved plans for the solar park in West Hoathly, which campaigners hailed as one of the UK’s most ambitious energy projects.
Campaigners said their next aim would be to drum up funds to build the solar park. Thomas Parker, technical director at Repower Balcombe, said: “We’re ecstatic.
“Now it’s time to get to work to start raising finance and start building our community solar farm. It’s really happening. The fracking village is going solar.”
Millie Darling, campaign manager at 10:10, said: “We are delighted with the decision today. When people can choose their energy future they choose renewables, not fracking.”
Brighton Pavilion Green MP Caroline Lucas said it was “an enormous victory“ for Balcombe, adding: “The Government might be abandoning renewables, but communities embrace them.”
Councillor Chris Hersey, vice-chairman of the council’s district planning committee, which granted approval, said: “I think this scheme is an excellent opportunity to do something about climate change.
“Overall, I thought it was a well-thought out scheme which will be in an area that is unlikely to cause any problems.”
Meanwhile, industry experts have warned that planned cuts to solar support by Government could put up to 27,000 jobs at risk.
The South East could be the worst affected, with over 4,000 solar jobs in peril. The North West faces 3,500 of its 4,300 solar jobs being threatened, the Solar Trade Association said.
