WELCOME TO FELSTED

A Planning Application has recently been submitted for the “Hedgehog Grove Solar Farm” that had originally been pursued as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), meaning that the final decision on whether permission for development would have been approved would have been made the Secretary of State on behalf of the Government, but was subsequently withdrawn.

However, following changes made by the Government in December 2025 under the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, there is now no specific “maximum” power output that a solar farm is legally prohibited from exceeding; rather, the Act redefines the regulatory pathways for projects of varying scales. The most significant change introduced by the Act and its associated secondary legislation is that the act raises the capacity limit for solar farms that can be decided by local planning authorities under conventional Planning Applications from 50 MW to 150 MW. This means that solar farms can now produce up to 150 MW of power while remaining under the local planning regime, in our case, that is via Uttlesford District Council (UDC).

Felsted residents are able to comment to UDC on the application now it is formally submitted. No doubt some residents will choose to support the application, and some will object.

Details of the application (and the opportunity for those residents who wish to comment) can be found at: https://publicaccess.uttlesford.gov.uk/online-applications/search.do?action=simple&searchType=Application
By entering the application reference number UTT/26/0445/FUL

Felsted Parish Council are likely to object because we have already supported TWO solar farms within Felsted Parish, one covering 38 acres (shown in red on the map below) which has been fully operational since 2014 and the other covering 282 acres (shown in blue on the map below), which received full planning approval from UDC in 2023 but is yet to be constructed. Both are located near Willows Green.

Clearly, having previously supported two solar farms, in total covering around 320 acres, Felsted Parish’s likely future objection cannot in any way be claimed to be a “NIMBY” (i.e. “Not In My Back Yard”) response. Our concern is the scale of the proposal and the cumulative impact of the existing approved 320 acres plus the proposed additional 675 acres (shown in yellow on the map below) which would bring the total combined area of Felsted under “Solar” to circa 1,000 acres or 405 hectares (equivalent to around 560 football pitches), seriously impacting our rural environment and displacing wildlife etc. In addition, the majority of the impacted land, according to the Natural England – Agricultural Land Classification map for the Eastern Region (ALC008) would be on land classified as “Grade 2” i.e. “Very Good” BMV (Best and Most Versatile) agricultural land.

Therefore, the use of almost 1,000 acres of what is classified as BMV Grade 2 “i.e. Very Good” land is considered unacceptable and unsustainable.

Felsted Parish Council are publishing these details in order to keep the community informed of this very significant Planning Application.

The government has announced £53m of support for vulnerable households who rely on heating oil.

The support will be targeted to help low-income households in rural communities affected by the recent surge in costs.

The additional funding will be distributed by local authorities via the Crisis and Resilience Fund, which comes into effect on 1 April and replaces the temporary Household Support Fund.

Locally, the fund will be administered by Essex County Council.

If help is needed before the Crisis and Resilience Fund starts in April, residents can apply to

Essex County Council’s Household Support Fund for help.

A public consultation on the new draft Essex Safer Speeds Strategy has been launched.

The consultation runs for six weeks, closing on Sunday 26 April 2026.

Speed is the biggest factor in serious road traffic collisions in Essex.

To achieve the Vision Zero aspiration that no one should be killed or seriously injured on Essex roads by 2040, steps need to be taken to manage speeds, improve road design and support safer travel choices.

The new draft Essex Safer Speeds Strategy, developed in partnership with the Safer Essex Roads Partnership, will help introduce safer speeds across Essex, with recommended speed limits decided based on how different streets are used.

Residents are encouraged to provide feedback through the public consultation which will help refine and improve the strategy before it is finalised and adopted later this year.

For more information about the strategy and to take part in the consultation, please visit: https://consultations.essex.gov.uk/essex-highways/essex-safer-speeds-strategy

Alternatively, you can send a response by email to gro.syawhgihxesseobfsctd-40581e@sdeepsrefas

Printed copies of the survey, consultation summary document and full draft strategy will soon be available in main libraries. They can also be requested by emailing gro.syawhgihxesseobfsctd-4e402a@sdeepsrefas