PLANS to install 9,000 solar panels in eight St Mary fields have been “temporarily withdrawn” by Jersey Electricity following “in-depth” questions posed by the Cabinet Office.
In a statement issued on Thursday, JE stated it had taken the decision to “temporarily withdraw” its planning application for the proposed green-energy facility at Champs Verts, in the area of Rue de la Hougue Mauger, which would have generated enough power for almost 1,200 homes.
The utility company retracted its application just days before it was due to receive a final determination from the Planning Department, claiming Planning policy comments provided by its “statutory consultee”, the Cabinet Office, which serves the Council of Ministers, were provided late in the application process, and that it did not have sufficient time to provide a comprehensive response.
In an eight-page document’s concluding remarks, it is stated that the “principle” of the development is supported, but the use of open countryside “has not been clearly justified, in particular, the potential use of glasshouse sites to be used for development of this kind”.
JE said it “fully intends” to resubmit the application later this year.
It comes as parishioners in St Mary have criticised the plans, and St Mary campaign group Save This View have welcomed the temporary withdrawal of the application.
Residents William and Laura Layzell, and Brian Mansfield, started the campaign to protect the parish’s agricultural fields.
Of the comments and subsequent application withdrawal, Mr Layzell said: “A submission by what is, in effect, the Council of Ministers in a case such as this is unusual but, we hope, effective.
“It reflects our concern, and that of the many objectors to this plan, that Jersey Electricity is taking the easy option of covering high-grade agricultural fields, rather than targeting brownfield sites.”
He added: “We are asking the simple question: ‘What price for the countryside?’ and the Cabinet Office appears to be asking it too.”
The group added that the application called the company’s analysis of potential solar farm sites “flawed”.
On the withdrawal of the plans, a JE spokesperson said it needed time to “comprehensively reply” to the comments made.
“The Government’s Place and Spatial Policy Team, who work with or alongside the Planning Department, issued their considered comments about the [plans] earlier this week. After considering the depth and detail needed to comprehensively reply to the comments, JE decided to temporarily withdraw its planning application to give time to submit a detailed response.”
The firm added: “This proposed solar farm at Champs Verts will provide a meaningful contribution to Jersey’s energy sovereignty and help to diversify the Island’s energy supply, in line with several government policies, while also providing the opportunity for the Island’s farming community to develop new, diverse and innovative farming methods.”
See print and online editions of today’s JEP for further coverage of countryside initiatives aimed at boosting agriculture and energy security.
