Changes to Sunnica solar farm plans 'tough to swallow' for campaigners
The solar farm had already been given the go-ahead last year
Campaigners say changes to the Sunnica solar farm on the Cambridgeshire-Suffolk border are hard to take.
Developers want the Government to approve significant amendments to the plans, which were passed in July last year.
The changes include "extending the order limits to include additional land at the Burwell National Grid Substation".
"We already face the impact of around a million solar panels and one of the world's largest lithium ion battery energy storage systems," Catherine Judkins, from the Say No To Sunnica group, said.
"We feel further development over and above this already significant industrialisation of the area will be really hard to swallow."
'Trojan horse'
Councillor Richard Rout, cabinet member at Suffolk County Council, described the Sunnica solar farm scheme as "a Trojan horse.
"A devious way of introducing even more infrastructure into our county which is lucrative only for the developer and landowners while our communities and landscape pay a heavy price."
A consultation with seven authorities on the changes, including Cambridgeshire and Suffolk county councils is due to take place.
In response to Sunnica's application, the Government said it's not necessary for other groups to be consulted "as they are not directly affected, either because the proposed amendments will not affect their interests or because their interests relate to a different part of the scheme."
Ms Judkins hopes the consultation can spread more widely.
"We're hoping once the consultation materials have been circulated, we might be able to find out more about the scheme and the proposed changes to it, and how residents can share their feedback if they wish to," she added.
"I think this should set alarm bells ringing for other communities facing these mega scale solar and battery plants; it could well be that other developers seek to expand their schemes post-decision, too."
Last August, both Cambridgeshire and Suffolk county councils pulled out of a legal challenge against the Sunnica scheme due to costs.
What does Sunnica want to do?
Sunnica wants to build the solar farm across three different sites.
The plans include building solar photovoltaic panels across several fields and each site would be connected to each other by underground cables that link to the National Grid at Burwell substation.
Sunnica Limited says the project will power 172,000 homes and create 1,500 jobs during construction.
The company hopes the proposals would help the government's target of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
A spokesperson for Sunnica added: "We expect Sunnica to create a net gain in biodiversity.
"We have committed to establish and fund an Ecology Advisory Group that would oversee and monitor ecological matters relating to Sunnica Energy Farm during its operating life."