Approximately 300 acres of farmland will be covered by the proposed development. This area is roughly equivalent to around 200 standard-size football pitches, representing a large-scale industrial infrastructure project within a prime rural landscape.

Visual Impact

The development involves the installation of:

• Solar panels approximately 3 metres in height across the 300 acre site

• Security fencing surrounding the panels, enclosing footpaths and restricting access to wildlife

• CCTV cameras around the site

• Security night lighting at key points

• Underground cabling and over head pylons on the site

• BESS - Battery Energy Storage Systems huge battery installations the size of shipping containers requiring concrete and hard standing

• Increased signage and industrialisation of the rural area

Views from surrounding areas and public footpaths across the Green Belt will be altered. The project is classified as a ‘temporary’ development, however the installation would remain in place for up to 40 years before being dismantled.

Some residential properties are located close to the proposed installation, meaning nearby residents will experience a significant change to their immediate landscape.

Noise

Solar energy is often seen as a quiet, green alternative to fossil fuels. Unlike wind turbines, solar panels have no moving parts. But the size of the equipment for large-scale solar farms, such as inverters and transformers, generate noticeable noise.

Solar panels work by generating direct current (DC) electricity, which must be converted to alternating current (AC) by inverters to feed the grid. This conversion process creates a low-frequency “hum” at 120 Hz. Transformers, which step up voltage for the grid, add more hum through electromagnetic forces, and cooling fans contribute additional broadband noise.

Roads and Traffic

Construction would require the movement of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) along local roads. Several of these routes are narrow, with some sections operating as single-lane roads, and parts of the network are already in limited condition with surfaces further eroded and the potential for underground service pipes to be damaged.

Increased construction traffic may therefore raise road safety concerns for residents and other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders who regularly use these rural routes.

Wildlife and Heritage

The proposed site lies near areas of ancient woodland, which are recognised as important habitats for wildlife. There are concerns that large-scale construction and land use changes could affect surrounding ecosystems and biodiversity.

The nearby village of Crowhurst has a long local history. St George’s Church dates back more than 800 years, and the village is also home to the Crowhurst Yew, a tree estimated to be over 4,000 years old. The tree was recognised as one of the 50 Great British Trees during the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

Community Perspective

Supporters of the campaign group emphasise that they support renewable energy in principle, but question whether this particular proposal is appropriate for this location. Concerns have been raised about the scale of the development on Green Belt farmland, potential impacts on the rural landscape, reducing the availability of farmland and the limited direct benefits for the local community.