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Plans emerge for new solar farm close to Roman ruins at Richborough, near Sandwich

Plans for another solar farm less than a stone’s throw away from important ancient ruins have been unveiled, leading to fears the area will turn into a “large industrial park”.

RBL Solar has submitted documents revealing they intend to apply to build a 40 megawatt (MW) solar farm at the former Richborough landfill, near Sandwich - and close to the Roman ruins at Richborough.

The land where the solar farm is proposed is currently grazed by sheep. Picture: SLR
The land where the solar farm is proposed is currently grazed by sheep. Picture: SLR

It comes after an even larger 49.9MW solar farm proposed near the ruins in 2023 awaits approval and attracted over 700 objections from the public.

RBL Solar has submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment scoping report to Dover District Council (DDC) detailing the information needed to accompany their plans.

On behalf of the developers, consultants SLR said in the report: “RBL Solar Ltd intends to apply for planning permission to construct and operate a 40MW solar photovoltaic array, substation and connecting cables on land at the former Richborough landfill.”

The site is just off Ramsgate Road and is the size of about 87 football pitches, and was a landfill maintained by the county council until it was closed in the 1990s.

“The site has been restored and is under continuing environmental monitoring,” the report adds.

The Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre site is run by English Heritage and is open to the public. Picture: John Lambshead
The Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre site is run by English Heritage and is open to the public. Picture: John Lambshead

The report also explains that the Roman ruins are only about 75 metres from the area they propose to install solar panels.

Richborough once hosted a huge Roman fort, town and amphitheatre, and was the first permanent Roman settlement in Britain after the invasion by Emperor Claudian in 43 AD.

Today the wall of the fortress and amphitheatre remain visible and the site is managed by English Heritage.

Local archaeologist and heritage lead for the Save Ash Levels campaign Dr Tony Redding is not a fan of the plans.

“The giant solar farm developers, not content with attacking Richborough Roman Fort from one direction, now plan to assault it from another,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

The locations of existing and proposed solar farms near Richborough's Roman ruins
The locations of existing and proposed solar farms near Richborough's Roman ruins

“This part of the East Kent coastal area is fast losing its rural character.

“In a decade it will be a large industrial park.

“These massive solar farms will destroy the quality of life for thousands of people. They will degrade the value of property and small businesses and destroy heritage that belongs to future generations.

“Of course, sustainable energy is important for our future, but what sort of future are we heading for?”

Local archaeologist Dr Tony Redding fears the area will be a “large industrial park” in a decade
Local archaeologist Dr Tony Redding fears the area will be a “large industrial park” in a decade

The new 40MW proposal is being dubbed RBL2, and sits directly south of RBL1 - a 5MW solar farm already operated by RBL Solar.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal

A spokesman for RBL Solar said: “Our emerging proposal provides an opportunity to generate clean energy to help combat climate change through solar arrays on an underutilised former landfill site.

“We will be sharing information on our proposals at a community consultation event which will provide an opportunity for residents and other consultees to give feedback.”

It comes after Statkraft - Europe’s biggest renewable energy firm - applied to DDC in November 2023 for permission to build its own 49.9MW solar farm 160 metres from the Roman ruins.

The project has been dubbed “Little South Solar Farm”, and DDC have made no decision on it yet.

When it was proposed, famed historian of the Romans and TV star Professor Dame Mary Beard took to X (formerly Twitter) to draw attention to it, saying “if you are interested in the Roman site at Richborough, you should take a look at this”.

Richborough hosts the remains of Britain’s first Roman settlement
Richborough hosts the remains of Britain’s first Roman settlement

Little South Solar Farm has been objected to by over 700 people on DDC’s planning portal so far.

Any solar farm of 50MW or more requires permission from the Secretary of State for energy security and net zero, rather than the local council.

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