Stop Deben Solar

This is NOT an anti-solar campaign, we believe that large industrial scale solar farms should be located on “roofs before rural”, former industrial sites, next to motorways, contaminated land etc and not on heritage landscapes amidst productive farmland.

Stop Deben Solar

Introduction

This website has been created by residents from Letheringham, Woodbridge, Suffolk to share fears about a proposed Solar Farm. Whilst the site is focused on Letheringham, there are many similarities with other locally targeted villages in our glorious Deben Valley. We wish to inform residents and businesses of local villages about such Solar Farms; particularly, as such proposals are also happening across vast swathes of our neighbouring Deben Valley countryside. We want to join forces with other such villages in the fight to protect our countryside: for our wildlife, communities and future generations.

Key concerns include: flooding, fire, pollution (from toxic chemicals), wildlife, tourism, local businesses, employment, traffic, heritage assets, loss of agricultural land, as well as environmental concerns regarding the entire solar panel/infrastructure life-cycle (from manufacture to disposal). Many of these issues were debated in Parliament on 15th May 2025, led by Dr Caroline Johnson MP: "This debate will hopefully demonstrate that covering our best farmland with massive solar projects would be irreversibly damaging to the nation. I urge the Minister to listen to me, my fellow MPs and fellow citizens before it is too late”. https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/debate/2025-05-15/commons/commons-chamber/solar-farms

Background

On 18th February 2025 a proposal was submitted, on behalf of Quintas Cleantech, to East Suffolk Council for a very large Solar Farm across two sites in Letheringham and Easton. This would generate 49.9 MW of electricity, and take 23% of the land within the very heart of rural Letheringham. Subsequent to a leaflet being delivered to some residents, Quintas Cleantech (QC) held a Public meeting on 22nd April 2025.

Proposed Development

Letheringham Solar Farm is a proposed installation and operation of a Solar Development and Battery Energy Storage System, with associated equipment and infrastructure. Including Easton, this covers 116 hectares, or 287 acres, which is roughly equivalent to 288 football pitches. For Letheringham, this would cover nearly a quarter of the land area within the very heart of the community (within the 30mph limit and main Street).

The height of the solar arrays will be approximately 3 meters, which is much higher than a person! Other infrastructure includes: approximately 25 batteries and inverters (containerised units, at approx 3m high each), distribution network substation, communications/weather monitoring station, etc. The site would be surrounded by an estimated 2.5m high security fence, with CCTV, security signage and would require a substantial site entrance/set-down area. This, we believe, would transform our tranquil rural landscape into an industrial, utility-grade, Solar Power Station.

The height of the solar arrays will be approximately 3 meters, which is much higher than a person! Other infrastructure includes: approximately 25 batteries and inverters (containerised units, at approx 3m high each), distribution network substation, communications/weather monitoring station, etc. The site would be surrounded by an estimated 2.5m high security fence, with CCTV, security signage and would require a substantial site entrance/set-down area. This, we believe, would transform the tranquil rural landscape into an industrial, utility-grade, Solar Power Station.

The Next Stage

QC plan to submit their Planning Application to East Suffolk Council (ESC) in June 2025.

We have created this website to enable residents, and visitors to Letheringham and Easton, as well as wider communities, to be “better informed” about the reality of Solar Power Stations – read as much/little as you wish. If you want to Object to ESC, you are welcome to use/refer to any information on this site. We have tried to be factual and evidence based throughout, and have noted that it has been challenging to find and include certain information.

Stop Deben Solar is a member of the UK Solar Alliance (link will be added); which is composed of members representing over 150 Solar schemes on farmland across the UK. This totals around 118,000 acres of our Countryside. The UK Solar Alliance (UKSA) will continue to provide invaluable support and advice as we continue this journey.

We are preparing for the full Planning Application from QC, as there will be little time to respond once planning is submitted. This is a massive undertaking for our small voluntary group, both in terms of time and cost. However, we are eager to try and protect our Deben Valley from a decision, which will, in our opinion, change the landscape of our special villages for forever.

Why are we objecting to a Solar Power Station?

We believe that a holistic approach to renewable energy is vital for a sustainable future, which includes investment in Solar. However, such developments should be appropriately located: “roofs before rural”, contaminated sites, industrial land, brownfield sites, adjacent to motorways, railways, etc, and not within a heritage landscape, on agricultural farmland, within the heart of rural Letheringham, Easton, or other such villages.

We believe such a development would engulf our communities, causing significant visual and audible harm to residents, wildlife and those further afield who regularly visit the area. Letheringham and Easton are known for their rural charm (as well as other Deben Valley villages), welcoming many walkers (“pram-pushers”), joggers, ramblers, horse riders, dog walkers, church visitors, cyclists, Easton harrier hounds, etc, daily - come rain or shine!

Our Deben Valley villages are well known holiday cottage destinations, deep in rural Suffolk, attracting invaluable tourist expenditure, therefore supporting many small local businesses. Transformation of this landscape into industrial, utility-grade Solar Power Stations, would simply dwarf Letheringham and would also have a massive impact on Easton (part of which is in a Conservation area). There is concern that it would also threaten the tourist industry that many businesses, and associated employees have come to rely upon.

Stop Deben Solar | Letheringham | Suffolk