This proposed 200-acre industrial solar power station is set to be built on greenfield uplands, with the dramatic backdrop of Dent Fell and the Lake District National Park immediately to the east. Dent Fell is not only a cherished local landmark but also the first fell encountered by walkers on Wainwright’s iconic Coast to Coast route.

The scale of this development will have a profound visual and environmental impact on the surrounding towns and villages — including Egremont, Cleator Moor, Frizington, Wilton, Bigrigg, Cleator, Arlecdon, and Thornhill. Its visibility will extend for miles, from the descent into Hensingham on Cleator Moor Road, along Outrigg Lane from St Bees to Egremont, and even from the new Edgehill Park development in Kells, Whitehaven — over four miles away. It will be especially prominent from Clintz Brow on the A595 and the A5086 between Cleator and Egremont.

This is not a discreet or low-impact project. The introduction of continuous rows of reflective glass panels, tall mesh security fencing, surveillance cameras, noisy inverter cabins, and substations will irreversibly alter one of the most scenic and tranquil outlooks in the area. It will erode the unique sense of openness and remoteness that defines this landscape and draws both residents and visitors alike.

If approved, this development will cause lasting harm to our local landscape, biodiversity, wildlife, and cultural heritage — damage that will endure for generations. The scale and visibility of the project mean that the harm far outweighs any perceived benefits.

Our opposition is widespread and deeply rooted. We must ensure that local voices are heard, expert advice is respected, and that this course of action is reconsidered before it’s too late.