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The information has come to light, as the applicant of the energy site, BL Solar 12 (Helios Energy Park) Limited, has submitted papers to the Planning Inspectorate as part of preparations to examine National Grid’s Sea Link project.
Suffolk County Council is currently preparing its reports for the Sea Link examination, as a statutory consultee. It will now carefully consider the potential cumulative implications of the new Helios solar farm project on local communities and the environment.
The county council will continue to object to projects where justified and make it very clear to all the parties that must work together, to protect local communities, and the environment, by minimising and mitigating the harm of their schemes.
The Helios Energy Park would be built in the vicinity of the consented, but as-yet unbuilt, National Grid substation at Friston – which was consented in March 2022 as part of ScottishPower’s plans for the EA1N and EA2 offshore windfarms.
The size of the Helios project means that it will be considered a nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP), with its future decided by central government, not by local councils.
Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Devolution, Local Government Reform and NSIPs, said:
“With potentially yet another NSIP on their doorstep, this will be difficult news for local communities to take, particularly Friston and Knodishall.
“They are already anticipating the construction of the 30-acre substation at Grove Wood as part of the infrastructure to support ScottishPower’s offshore windfarms. Then there are the current Sea Link proposals, LionLink, Sizewell C and now a significant solar and battery farm.
“We knew that National Grid’s official register of connection offers had indicated the Helios proposal, but that potential now feels more real.
“National Grid’s customers must not damage or weaken the mitigation planting in the consented scheme.
"The county council will continue to object to projects where justified and make it very clear to all the parties that must work together, to protect local communities, and the environment, by minimising and mitigating the harm of their schemes.”
Information published on the Planning Inspectorate website, shows that construction of the Helios project would likely overlap with the construction of Sea Link, if both are consented. The cumulative impact of these, along with the consented ScottishPower proposals for the onshore infrastructure, such as the substation, will further impact the parish of Friston and adjacent parishes.