After six months of local engagement, the Planning Inspectorate closed the examination period of the Sunnica application on 28 March. This marks the end of the process for my constituents and leaves only the Examining Authority to make a recommendation to the Secretary of State, which it will do on 28 June.
Many will know that despite my general support for solar energy, I have maintained at every stage of the process that this specific scheme is both poorly planned and unsuitable; a view which is shared by the majority of the constituents I have engaged with on the issue, and East Cambridgeshire District Council, who voted unanimously to oppose the scheme at their special planning committee hearing in November.
As we wait for the outcome, I want to take this opportunity to thank all constituents who have participated in the process, with special recognition reserved for the Say No to Sunnica action group, who have worked tirelessly to scrutinize the applicant's plans and capture local mood.
