Ringmer Solar Farm: Latest OVESCO reports labelled as 'disappointing' as politicians call for plans to be scrapped

OVESCO, a Sussex based community energy company, submitted plans to the Lewes District Council for Ouse Valley Solar Farm to be built on on the land east of Uckfield Road.

A new report from Ovesco into the agricultural value of the site, on which they are proposing the new solar farm, classified the proposed site of the 70 acre solar farm as being largely made up of excellent quality agricultural land (43.1 per cent).

Councillor Matthew Bird, cabinet member for Sustainability, said: “This report is incredibly disappointing and calls into question the feasibility of the Ovesco solar farm project.

“The information we received at the outset from Ovesco and their consultants made it clear that the land was of a lower grade and therefore a solar farm could be an appropriate use.

“It is my view now that the current Ovesco planning application is fundamentally compromised and should be withdrawn immediately.

“Council officers will also be discussing the financial implications of these developments with Ovesco.”

In May, OVESCO director Chris Rowland told SussexWorld the company had taken core samples from all over the site, which revealed that the land was predominately made up of moderate quality agricultural land – suitable for a solar farm.

Lewes MP Maria Caulfield, who had previously been against the plans, welcomed the findings of the new report.

Ms Caulfield said: “Many of the residents I have spoken to regarding this were concerned about the loss of agricultural land.

"Despite what Ovesco have previously stated about the quality of the land, this new report shows just what residents have been saying, namely that the site is extremely good for agricultural use.

"I am pleased that this has now been confirmed, with only a small part of the site deemed to be Moderate Quality Agricultural Land and the rest of it being of higher quality.”

The health minister also called for the solar farm plans to be withdrawn and called on the council to use taxpayers money to fund ‘something better’.

Ms Caulfield continued: “The fact that the Council’s own Cabinet Member for Sustainability has said the report ‘calls into question the feasibility of the Ovesco solar farm project’ surely means it is time for Ovesco to withdraw plans for this solar farm in Ringmer.

"It is also time that the Lib Dem and Green run Lewes District Council use the £100,000 of taxpayers’ money that was to fund this for something better.

"An example could be keeping Ringmer Swimming Pool open, something that would benefit local people in the village.”

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Chris Rowland said OVESCO take the concerns for its latest report ‘very seriously’.

He explained: “We recently submitted a further ALC report. The report has found that the land has a mixture of high and low-grade quality land.

"We take the concerns expressed by Lewes District Council very seriously. This is an important application as it would provide 4,800 homes with renewable energy every year.

"Given the climate and energy emergencies we all face, we are considering the immediate future of this application”