Plans Approved for Solar Panel Farm in Eastbourne

Plans for a solar farm in East Sussex are set to be reviewed by the Eastbourne Borough Council’s planning committee next week. The proposal includes a solar farm, a battery energy storage system, and associated infrastructure on land south of Cross Levels Way. While planning officers have recommended approval with conditions, the project has attracted significant opposition, with 114 letters of objection citing concerns over the site's archaeological, ecological, and visual significance. The proposed site consists of two fields classified as “moderate quality” agricultural land, located adjacent to the railway line between Hampden Park and Eastbourne. The Eastbourne Society, a local heritage conservation group, has expressed conditional support for the solar farm, emphasizing the need for the operating company to ensure the preservation of the area's biodiversity. A spokesperson highlighted the importance of the land, referring to it as "the lungs of the town," and noted its designation as Eastbourne Park to prevent further development. Despite its ecological and archaeological designations, the land has been earmarked in Eastbourne’s local plan for renewable energy infrastructure. Planning officers have indicated that if the project receives approval, the developer, Low Carbon, must obtain a license for the conservation of Great Crested Newts and collaborate with the county’s archaeologist to address potential impacts. A decision on the proposal is expected to be made on Tuesday, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.