Click here to object to the Beane Valley Solar Farm planning application
Beane Valley Solar Farm
Solar farm developers Renewable Energy Systems Limited have submitted a planning application to East Herts Council for the development of a 200 acre solar farm plant including an inverter substation and battery storage located on Beane Valley in Hertfordshire.
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The developer, Lightrock Power Limited, for an adjoining solar farm is at the initial stage of their planning application programme - community consultation and are working towards submitting a planning application to North Hertfordshire District Council by spring 2025. Obscurely the developers project name for the solar plant is Westfield Energy Conservative Park. This solar farm plant will be next door to the Beane Valley Solar Farm should the planning application be approved. This site would be located on Munches Farm.
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Our Community Under Threat
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For information on the Munches Farm Solar Farm, Westfield Energy Conservation Park, please click here.
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To register your objection to the Beane Valley Solar Farm planning application click here.
Why is 1,000 a Magic Number?
The Beane Valley Solar Farm proposal has sparked significant concern among local residents and environmental advocates.
When a planning application receives more than 1,000 objections, it indicates significant public concern or opposition to the proposed development.
Here are some potential implications of the lodgement of more than 1,000 planning application objections:
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Higher Chances of Rejection: With substantial opposition, the likelihood of the application being rejected increases, especially if the objections are based on valid planning grounds such as environmental impact, traffic congestion, or loss of local amenities.
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Increased Scrutiny: The local council is likely to scrutinise the application more closely, considering the high level of public interest and concern.
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Public Consultation: There may be extended or additional public consultations to address the objections and gather more community feedback.
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Potential Delays: The decision-making process could be delayed as the council reviews and addresses the objections.
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Possible Revisions: The applicant might be asked to revise their plans to mitigate the concerns raised by the objections.
Current Number of Objections to the Beane Valley Solar Farm Planning Application: 1,152
The response to the Beane Valley Solar Farm planning application is a powerful example of a community coming together to protect its environment and way of life. Given the magnitude of the number of objections from the community regarding the Beane Valley Solar Farm, East Herts Council has a duty to carefully consider and respond to the concerns.
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East Herts Council must demonstrate its commitment to serving the interests of its residents while also considering the broader goals of sustainable development and renewable energy. They must maintain transparency throughout the decision-making process, providing regular updates to the community and explaining the rationale behind any decisions made.
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The East Herts Landscape Office has raised objections to the planning application for the RES Beane Valley Solar Farm. They stated that “the proposals are not landscape-led and give rise to significant adverse landscape and visual effects. The proposed landscape scheme is not deemed sufficient to deliver the most effective landscape or visual mitigation, or enhancement of the watercourses, for the duration of the development or beyond.”
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Their objection further noted, “It is appreciated that the proposed development is ‘temporary,’ however, its duration of 40 years is considered a substantial portion of a generation’s experience......overall, the proposed development is considered to have a significant adverse visual effect. There is concern that due to the elevated and sloping nature of the site, boundary planting only provides partial screening to the foreground, and the array remains visible in the mid-background.”
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As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how East Herts Council will respond to this unprecedented level of community engagement.
Community Voice
The sheer number of objections demonstrates the strength of local feeling. This is a significant proportion of the small rural population, indicating that the opposition is not just from a vocal minority but represents a broad consensus.
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By raising over 1,000 objections, the community has made a strong case for a more thoughtful and balanced approach to renewable energy development.
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If you are concerned about the impact of the Beane Valley Solar Farm click here to lodge your objection.
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Join us to keep up to date with all the latest news regarding the Beane Valley Solar Plant planning applications.
How You Can Help
Let us ensure that our community voice is heard and our concerns are taken into account before any irreversible damage is done, please sign the community petition to protect the Beane Valley.
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​​Our community is raising funds to support the campaign against the Beane Valley Solar Farm planning application. Your contributions will go towards essential costs such as community outreach efforts, environmental impact assessments and legal fees. Every donation, no matter how small, helps protect the Beane Valley.
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Join Us on JustGiving
We’ve partnered with JustGiving to make it easy for you to contribute. Simply visit our JustGiving page and make a donation. You can also share the campaign with your friends, family, and social networks to help spread the word.
East Herts Landscape Officer, 25th February 2025 "There should be deeper consideration for the value of the landscape"
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The Beane Valley Solar Farm Planning Application
The Beane Valley Solar Farm planning proposal is on prime agricultural farmland and the rolling nature of the landscape will make it highly visible. This will have a significant impact on the openness of the countryside due to the site topography. The development would have the appearance of a continuous mass of glass and metal which is clearly not what you would expect to see in the countryside.
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The proposed development planning application comprises the construction and operation of an electricity generating station with a capacity of 49.9MW with associated ancillary equipment.
The proposal will have a temporary operational lifespan of 40 years. 40 years is not "temporary" - a 40 year temporary effect on countryside openness.
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The proposed solar development is located within the redlined area on the map opposite approximately c. 85 ha (c. 200 acres) of land.
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The solar farm developer has chosen this site because it is a low cost option to connect to the electricity network and has a grid connection agreement in place. This is not a good enough reason and planning officers must refuse planning permission due to the significantly harmful impact it would have on the landscape.
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Energy generated by the solar farm would be fed into the national grid rather than directly benefiting local residents.
A Beane Valley significant planning application for a massive 200-acre (120 football pitches) solar farm site
The Beane Valley Solar Plant planning application includes the construction and operation of the following components:
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Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Panels erected on steel frames in south-facing arrays
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Transformer/inverter units, on concrete plinths
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Associated Battery Energy Storage (units each the size of shipping containers), on concrete plinth 80m x 80m
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A primary substation and control building compound
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A number of strategically located CCTV security cameras
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Perimeter post and wire “deer” fencing
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Site access
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Access tracks/Associated internal service tracks
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Onsite cabling
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Ancillary site works including temporary construction compound.
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What we Care About
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It will not be possible to screen this solar farm development. The sensitive landscape setting in which the historic Cromer Windmill (Grade II listed) sits will be blighted. The last post mill in Hertfordshire.
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There are only about 240 natural chalk streams in the world and one of them (the River Beane), flows through the middle of this development.
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It will have a huge detrimental impact on the abundant free roaming wildlife including a large herd of deer. They take advantage of the wide open spaces to travel between their key habitats on which they rely. They will be denied access by the 1.4km long 8 feet high fence that will surround the development.
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Fencing In the Beane Valley
The Impact on Local Wildlife
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The installation of deer security fencing poses a significant threat to these animals. Such fencing will:
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Restrict Movement: Deer and other wildlife rely on free movement across the landscape for feeding, mating, and migration. Fencing disrupts these natural patterns, leading to stress and potential population decline.
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Cause Injuries: Wildlife can become entangled in the fencing, leading to injuries or even death. This is particularly concerning for young or inexperienced animals.
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Fragment Habitats: Fencing creates barriers that fragment habitats, making it difficult for species to access the resources they need to survive.​
Code of Practice for Deer Management
The the developers planning application does not include a Deer Management Plan covering the potential impacts of the solar farm development on the Beane Valley deer herd. Based on the guidance provided by the James Hutton Institute this should include:
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The purpose of the guidance is to promote a common approach to assessing the implications of developments on deer and the indirect impacts on other interests (e.g. habitats, neighbours, roads, etc.).
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As wild deer are present on and use the development site, the potential impacts of the development should be assessed on the deer and other interests. This should be presented as part of the planner’s Environmental Statement/information supporting the planning submission. The following potential impacts should be assessed:
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impacts on deer welfare
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impacts of deer on habitat reinstatement, creation or enhancement being undertaken within the development site (e.g. as part of a Habitat Management Plan)
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impacts on neighbouring land and interests (including public roads).
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At some sites, the assessment may indicate the need for management to avoid adverse impacts. In such cases a deer management statement should be required, either as part of a Habitat Management Plan or as a stand-alone document.
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At other sites, modification of an existing Deer Management Plan that covers a wider area may be appropriate to avoid adverse impacts.
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Developers should collaborative with neighbouring landowners and managers to avoid adverse impacts on the interests of all parties.
Deer Management Process
Read the full Code of Practice for Deer Management here.
​​​​​​​​​​​​The solar farms 40 year lifespan will ruin this beautiful Hertfordshire swathe of countryside not just for our generation but for future generations.​​​​​​​​​
Objection Reasons to Beane Valley Solar Farm Planning Application
Click here to object to the planning application
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The Cromer Windmill (Grade II listed) has been on this site since Norman times with the current 17th century mill, being the last post mill in Hertfordshire and a national treasure. The Mill was saved from destruction by the local community in the 1960’s and they have led its restoration and ongoing upkeep. Successfully winning campaigns to fund its continued upkeep and saving it from plans to be relocated.
The sensitive landscape in which the mill sits will be blighted by the proposed development.
We are blessed by a large number of listed buildings adjacent to the site, many of which are going to lose their place in this rural English landscape due to this industrial proposal.
The Puckeridge to Baldock Roman road crosses the site and the route will no longer be clear of obstructions due to the very high solar panels and 8 feet perimeter Fences.
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For an independent review of the Landscape Character of the proposed development site from Hertfordshire County Council click here. The review sets out the following strategy and guidelines for managing change to improve and conserve:
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• encourage landowners to safeguard existing hedges, increase hedged field boundaries, create permanent grass strips around field margins and prevent spray drift, using financial incentives as available, with a particular view to enhancing the quality of habitats adjacent to existing high-quality habitats in the Beane valley.
• consider the possibilities of creating circular footpath routes in the area, especially from the re-opened railway station in Watton-at-Stone (adjoining area), to take advantage of views over the sculptural landform.
• focus hedging opportunities on internal field boundaries, not those along roads and footpaths which could interrupt views over this area.
• encourage the conservation of the existing settlement pattern and resist any extensive development which would significantly affect this.
• consider the retention/replanting of trees along the watercourse to reflect its location. Care should be taken to select species that will reflect local distinctiveness and a quasi-waterside location but that can survive without a permanent water source.
• continue to manage both the established and young woodlands to the western boundary with Stevenage to minimise the visual impact of the settlement on the landscape to the east.
• encourage traditional woodland management measures including coppicing.
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Protected Heritage Assets
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Local Landscape/Visual impact rolling hills
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Wildlife routes
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Red list birds
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Countryside Stewardship Scheme
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High quality agricultural land
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Land Gradient, North slopes
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Increased Flood risk
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Rising local water tables
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Chalk Stream
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High Ground water Vulnerability to Pollutants as designated by the BGS.
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Current road access
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New road access
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Transport impacts during construction on A507 HGV Ban.
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Next to Residential Housing
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Noise - inverters & Batteries
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Permanent Development
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Greenfield site
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Land regrading / Soil Removal
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Land beyond Green Belt
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Solar Panel disposal
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Battery Fires
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Oversized development only 210 Acres for 50MW
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Drinking Water Safeguard zone
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Cycle Route 10
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Impact on Tourism and Local Business
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No Benefit to local Community - loss of rural amenities.
The Beane Valley Solar Farm Development Planning Application Impacts
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It will block important views and vistas and detract from the openness of the Hertfordshire countryside
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There will be a significant detrimental impact to the amenity of neighbouring occupiers
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It will have a significant detrimental effect on the character of the local environment
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It will be detrimental to the biodiversity value of the site and surrounding environment
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It damages the historic environment of the local area
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Leads to substantial harm to the significance of heritage asset
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Puts at risk the preservation of the adjoining stream
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It will destroy long-distance views from the local public rights of way
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Increased flood risks.
Food security should be on par with energy security. Officials must block any solar project that can be argued to "put food security at risk" - that is, anywhere food is grown. The Labour governments changes to inheritance tax on farmers have significantly influenced farmers’ decisions to release their land for solar farm development. The introduction of a 20% inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1 million, effective from April 2026, has created a “chilling effect” on traditional farming and nature recovery schemes.
Farmers are now more inclined to lease their land for solar farms to secure financial stability and avoid the hefty tax burden. Solar farms offer a lucrative alternative, providing a steady income stream that can help offset the potential tax liabilities. This shift is driven by the need to ensure the financial viability of their estates and to manage the tax implications effectively.
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Flood risks - local residents of Luffenhall and surrounding villages welcome the Environment Agency's objection to the solar farm planning application based on flood risks. Floods are a real and present threat impacting residents’ welfare, livelihoods and already occur too frequently.
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Luffenhall at High Tide - 6th January 2025​​
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“Deciding to Act May Take a While; Much Longer Than the Action Itself.”
Working Together to Protect Rural Landscapes, Wildlife & Residents