Major solar farm proposal on pause 'indefinitely'

Plans for a new, large solar farm have been put on pause "indefinitely" by its project team.

The 675-acre (275-hectare) plot of land near Mendlesham in Suffolk was earmarked for the White Elm project by Spanish firm Elmya RPC Grange Road Limited.

A consultation began on Monday for several communities and was expected to run until 30 June.

In a statement on its project website, the firm said it had "taken a decision to pause development of the project indefinitely".

The White Elm site, which also surrounds Wickham Skeith and Thwaite, sits five miles (8km) south of another proposed solar farm in Yaxley.

Elmya, which was expected to submit its scheme to the local planning authority in 2026, had said the project would power more than 40,000 homes.

Labour's Energy Secretary Ed Miliband was expected to have the final say on the plans.

White Elm Solar Farm's statement added: "Please note that the ongoing non-statutory consultation has been cancelled with immediate effect.

"This includes the two public consultation events on Saturday 31st May and Wednesday 4th June."

Conservative-controlled Suffolk County Council said it had "made it very clear" it would object to the proposal if high quality farmland was affected.

Richard Rout, cabinet member for devolution and nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSPIs), said: "While I am pleased to see the plans put on hold, we are yet to hear why they have chosen to do so.

"My fear is this, or a very similar scheme, may resurface if and when the government's proposed changes to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill go through.

"These changes will allow projects like this to be forced through without any statutory consultation, so councils like Suffolk County Council, and the communities we represent, will have even less say."

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