Solar farm plan on Shuttleworth Estate 'strongly opposed' by Cople council

The development site includes 103 acres of high-quality agricultural land, and is within the Cople village boundary, according to the parish council.

But the estate trustees said “it’s their responsibility to manage it in the most effective and sustainable way to support its charitable objectives”.

Cople Parish Council chairman Jason Whaley confirmed that “representing the views and interests of our community remains their top priority”. He wrote to the trustees of the Shuttleworth Estate’s chairman, Tim Routsis, last month to highlight the council’s opposition to the project, based on five areas of concern.

These are “landscape harm, loss of farmland, impact on the local community and neighbouring amenity, the ecological risks, and the conflicts with heritage and the organisation’s charitable status”.

The letter said: “Cople Parish Council writes on behalf of the community it represents to express its strong objection to the proposed solar farm and battery energy storage system facilities on land owned by the Shuttleworth Trust, within the parish.

“While the council recognises the importance of renewable energy and the need to support the transition to a low-carbon future, it doesn’t believe this location is appropriate, proportionate, or in keeping with the character and interests of the parish.

“Based on the information currently available, this proposal is unacceptable and contrary to the best interests of Cople parish. The elevated semi-industrial development creates widespread intrusion in open countryside.

“The loss of farmland undermines food security and the Shuttleworth Trust’s farming objectives. It causes traffic, noise, glare, and loss of public amenity, while proceeding without adequate prior community consultation.

“It threatens local wildlife and habitats adjoining ancient Sheerhatch Wood, and harms the setting of a scheduled Romano-British settlement, as well as compromising the trust’s charitable stewardship.

“A representative of the Shuttleworth Trust attended a public meeting in June and heard at first-hand the strength of feeling within the community. Has the trust signed a binding agreement with Quintas, and what are the exit terms if so?” the letter asked.

“Before supporting this proposal, did the trust consider installing solar panels on the rooftops of its buildings or above car parks on its land? How did the trustees satisfy themselves that this scheme is consistent with the trust’s charitable objectives?”

A trust spokesman explained: “The Shuttleworth Estate forms part of the charitable trust’s endowment and has been entrusted to the trustees to further its charitable objectives.

“As trustees, it’s our responsibility to manage the estate in the most effective and sustainable way to support those objectives for the long-term.

“Any commercial arrangements relating to the estate are confidential between the parties involved, and therefore we’re unable to comment on their details.

“Matters relating to the planning application process, including any comments or objections submitted by interested parties, will be considered through the appropriate statutory channels.”

The application is expected to be decided by Bedford Borough Council’s planning committee in due course.