This Green Belt land between Sunderland and South Tyneside(ST) forms an integral part of our heritage that we now risk losing to a proposed solar farm. The ST Council itself admits that the planned Solar Farm does not accord with the current council development plan for the area.
The solar panels, Sunderland AFC plan to erect on the fertile farmland, will obliterate our cherished views of the countryside and disrupt established wildlife corridors. The amended SAFC application submitted recently proposes to drain the flooded pond on the west field where Avocets and Little ringed Plovers have nested for the first time in South Tyneside and destroy the habitat used by over 4,800 birds . There will be an adverse impact on the value and integrity of the established wildlife corridor. The detrimental effect on the strategic green belt between South Tyneside and Sunderland leading to merging of Sunderland and Cleadon removes the green belt purpose. Mitigation proposed of hedge planting may increase biodiversity(more hedges) but have a negative impact on the openness of the Green Belt.
The Academy is built on the Green Belt and Very Special Circumstances (VSC) have to be accepted for that development to go ahead. This proposal would lead to a significant reduction in the separation distance between the built areas in this location and would very detrimentally affects the purpose of the Green Belt under the National Planning Policy Framework(NPPF) provisions a) and b), even if the development is not the construction of buildings. It would also mean encroachment in the countryside, giving it an artificial but industrial appearance contrary to NPPF point c).
There are multiple reasons for South Tyneside to reject the AoL application , including
◦ Adverse impact on the value and integrity of the wildlife corridor .The proposed development would have a detrimental impact on the established wildlife corridor for birds to Boldon Flats established for over 50 years.
The site is overlooked by Cleadon Hills and Iconic views both near and from afar will be significantly impacted by the proposal to the detriment of the population,.
◦ Adverse effect on landscape character and removal of substantial open views across the open countryside, towards the coast and Sunderland.
◦ Mitigation proposed through hedgerow planting will take 15 years before the visual effects of the Solar Farm will be ‘minor adverse’. No viewpoints in the application show the visual impact of the substation, which is a very large structure and will be higher than the fencing and hedging.
◦ Negative effects from the perimeter fencing on the openness of the Green Belt.Development closes the public view into the interior of a large area of Green Belt
◦ A corridor would be created along the exit footpath networks that run alongside the proposed development, which would otherwise be open aspects
◦ Impact on the enjoyment of the surrounding footpaths would be substantial with a
potential safety/fear of crime impact to users of the footpaths running alongside the proposed fence.
◦ Detrimental impacts on highway network, particularly at the Moor Lane junction with Sunderland Road during construction of the proposed development
Potential for fire at the Substation at the west end of the site on Shields road.
Meeting our energy goals should not be used to justify the wrong development in the wrong location and this includes the use of high-quality land. Protecting the global environment is not an excuse to trash the local environment Use the QR codes to appeal to the South Tyneside Council to reconsider the location of the proposed solar farm and to exert every effort to preserve our Green Belt lands.
Please, stand united in protecting this piece of our heritage. Sign this petition and join the voice to safeguard South Tyneside's Green Belt. https://chng.it/ZjYrrdkq5Y Share this petition in person or use the QR code for your own material.
To object to the Solar Farm use above QR code to go direct to South Tyneside planning objection page. Planning Application – ST/0357/24/FUL