About
Why Rutland Solar Action Group opposes Staveley Solar Farm:
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No Environmental Impact Assessment has been requested by Rutland County Council
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The loss of productive farmland at a time of increased need for food security: 46% of our food is imported and the amount of arable land is 14.8 million acres, the lowest since World War II
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The threat to nature and biodiversity: these fields provide habitat for birds on the RSPB’s conservation red list, including lapwing and skylark
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The ruination of High Rutland: an area of geographic and geological importance will be destroyed by a large scale industrial development, a large proportion of which sits inside a ‘Special Protection Area’
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Modern slavery: there are concerns the development has links with China and forced Uyghur labour could be used to produce the solar panels
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Solar’s dirty secret: the appalling carbon footprint to produce, ship and dispose of panels undermines solar’s green credentials
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Decommissioning and recycling: there is no long-term plan or regulation to guarantee the cost and appropriate decommissioning of panels, which could end up in landfill
About the Development
Plans for Staveley Solar Farm were revealed in late 2022. The 80-hectare (200-acre) development on a prominent High Rutland ridge between Pilton, Morcott and Wing, is being proposed by Bluestone Energy Ltd in conjunction with Anglian Water, a private company which is 85% overseas owned.
Anglian Water will receive virtually all the energy generated (10-15% to Wing Water Treatment Works, 75-80% to the Anglian Water estate), enabling it to reduce costs and increase profitability. Virtually no electricity would be supplied to homes and no local homes would benefit directly. The farmer who owns the land will receive rent for a 40-year lease, estimated to be worth £1,000 per acre per year, approximately £200,000 per year and potentially many millions in the long term.
Solar in Rutland
Staveley Solar Farm is one of four solar farm proposals for Rutland that could eventually cover 2-3% of the county’s land area, way beyond the 0.3% national target set by government to meet net zero climate goals.
Rutland Solar Action Group (RSAG) is in favour of renewable energy, but believes a lack of policy and regulation on the part of Government and Rutland County Council has resulted in an overwhelming number of proposals that will lead to the exploitation of the environment and local communities – in this case by a profiteering consortium comprising a start-up energy company, a private water company and a private landowner.
What we're doing
We have submitted a formal complaint to Rutland County Council about its failure to follow to its own planning procedure in not requiring the developer to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment and has called on Alicia Kearns MP for Rutland and Melton to push the Government for a moratorium on applications which could swamp Rutland with huge industrial solar farms at the expense of valuable agricultural land, negatively affecting food security and nature. Together, as a community, we’re campaigning and raising funds to stop this industrial development, protect Rutland farmland and food security, and force the Government to produce joined-up policy and regulation for renewable energy. Join us…
Staveley Solar Farm is one of four solar farm proposals for Rutland that could eventually cover 2-3% of the county’s land area, way beyond the 0.3% national target set by government to meet net zero climate goals.
Our Mission
Rutland Solar Action Group was formed by the community to oppose plans for Staveley Solar Farm. We have joined forces to oppose this industrial development in the heart of the Rutland countryside and demand a full Environmental Impact Statement.
Our Vision
Rutland Solar Action Group is calling on the Government to develop a sustainable national strategy to increase green energy generation, integrating clear regulation to protect food security, nature and local communities and to prevent private profiteering.