NEWS
Hedgehog Grove Solar Farm
The previously proposed 650-acre Solar Farm that was being pursued as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) meaning that the final decision on whether permission for development should be approved would have been made by the Secretary of State on behalf of the Government has been withdrawn.
Opportunities to object to NSIP’s are limited and therefore Felsted Parish Council had been representing the Parish in Community Liaison Group Meetings with TotalEnergies in order to lever any potential future gain for the community.
However, the applicant (TotalEnergies) has recently withdrawn their NSIP but has advised that the application will continue to come forward but now it will be via the Town and County Planning Act (TCPA) which means that it will be submitted as a normal Planning Application through Uttlesford District Council (UDC) and as it is no longer an NSIP, Felsted Parish Council are likely to object.
This also means that all Felsted residents will be able to comment to UDC on the application once it is formally submitted. No doubt some residents will choose to support the application, and some will object.
In advance of submitting their planning application to UDC TotalEnergies have recently circulated a brochure to Felsted households and were / are holding two “Consultation Events” (on Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd September) with residents invited to submit comments to them regarding the proposal, via either:
Freepost Hedgehog Grove Solar Farm (no postage required) Freephone 0800 0465879
Website www.solar.totalenergies.co.uk/hedgehoggrove
Email ku.oc.mrafralosevorggohegdeh @kcabdeef
Felsted residents will have their own views on Solar Farms and all residents are encouraged to submit their comments to this significant proposal, whether in support or as an objection.
Felsted Parish Council are likely to object because we have already supported TWO solar farms within Felsted Parish, one covering 38 acres which has been fully operational since 2014 and the other covering 282 acres, which received full planning approval from UDC in 2023 but is yet to be constructed. Both are located near Willows Green. (See map below)
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 650 acres which would bring the total combined area of Felsted under “Solar” to circa 970 acres (equivalent to around 600 football pitches), seriously impacting our rural environment and displacing wildlife etc. In addition, all of the effected land, according to the Natural England – Agricultural Land Classification map for the Eastern Region (ALC008) would be on land classified as “Grade2” i.e. “Very Good” BMV (Best and Most Versatile) agricultural land.
We believe that TotalEnergies claim in their distributed brochure, under their “Why Here” comments, where they say they have “carefully assessed” the land to ensure they are not proposing the use of “the highest quality farmland” is a disingenuous statement as there is no “Grade 1” (i.e. classification of “excellent”) BMV farmland anywhere in Uttlesford and very little in Essex as a whole, 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.
TotalEnergies do not anticipate submitting their formal planning application before January 2026 (this is because the Government’s intention to change the output capacity threshold for NSIP’s, which is a factor in TotalEnergies decision to withdraw their NSIP application), will not come into effect until 31st December 2025.
Felsted Parish Council will publish details of the formal planning application on the Parish Council website and on the Parish Council Facebook Page once the application has been submitted. Information will be published on:
Website https://felsted-pc.gov.uk/
Parish Council Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/felstedpc/
Essex Police – Beat Surgeries
PCSO Natalie Smith will be hosting beat surgeries at:
The Wood Cottage Tea Room
These drop in sessions are an opportunity for residents to:
- speak with the local community policing team about any concerns that they may have;
- obtain crime prevention advice;
- stop by for a chat.
The surgeries will be on:
Thursday 16th October 11am-12pm
Thursday 13th November 11am-12pm
Thursday 18th December 11am-12pm
Please feel free to stop by, everyone is welcome, no appointment is necessary.
Solar Farm Saturday Consultation
Residents may wish to be aware that TotalEnergies will be attending the Rayne Community Coffee morning on Saturday 27th September 10am – midday.
Venue The Old School Room, Shalford Road, Rayne CM77 6BS
Felsted residents are encouraged to attend.
Post on behalf of the Felsted Neighbourhood Plan Review Group on two potential major developments (one at Garnetts Lane – Water Tower site and one between Watch House and Bannister Greens – Bloor Homes)
Whether the Neighbourhood Plan supports the Water Tower site (or any other) for development depends on the ability of the Felsted Neighbourhood Plan Review Group (FNPRG) to complete the review of the Neighbourhood Plan (NP). A problem has been encountered however, which the FNPRG are, with UDC’s help, trying to resolve .
UDC has said a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is required for Felsted’s NP, without which it cannot proceed to Reg 14 in the Neighbourhood Planning process. Earlier this year however, and without notice, central government withdrew all funding for Neighbourhood Planning which includes Felsted’s SEA. UDC is now trying to fund SEAs for parishes, like Felsted, that are trying to complete their NP’s or Reviews. The outcome of the funding request should be known quite soon. If funding is granted the SEA then has to be commissioned (from AECOM) and completed, which can take several weeks. In reality, the FNPRG don’t expect to see a SEA report before the end of September at the earliest. In the meantime, they continue to work on the plan as best as they can, and minutes are available on Felsted PC’s website.
Outside of the NP process however, the Parish Council’s Planning Committee is required to comment on the planning application made in respect of the Water Tower site. They have also been formally notified that, in the next two weeks or so, Bloor Homes will be making a planning application for the site at Watchhouse/Bannister Green for circa 100 new homes.
In respect of the Water Tower project, the FNPRG have had further dialogue with the landowner’s agent and expressed very serious concerns about site access. Whilst the FNPRG are obliged to be reasonably accepting of the increase in traffic in Garnets Lane from the completed and occupied homes – not something they want anywhere in the parish – they have been forceful in expressing their very serious concerns about the impact of construction traffic during the development phase and have urged the construction of a ‘haul route’, using Chaffix Farm land in Braintree Road to be included in the application. They have said that it is very unlikely that an application that proposes Garnets Lane and Stebbing Road as construction access will be supported by the Neighbourhood Plan Review Group. A reply is awaited.
Cllr Richard Freeman, as Chair of the Parish Council’s Planning Committee has also written to Essex Highways asking for specific consideration to be given to the highway’s issues in any construction phase of the application and has also applied to UDC for a deferral on the Parish Councils response to the application, pending the outcome of that enquiry or sight of ECC Highways formal response to the application.
In respect of the Bloor Homes site, the planning consultants have adjusted the plans to, in their opinion, overcome any objection based on coalescence.
The inspection of the UDC Local Plan (LP) has complicated matters still further. The Inspectors assessing the plan have indicated that they are concerned that the housing number pipeline in the UDC plan has been miscalculated. (To be honest this is all more technical than the FNPRG understand!) The outcome is that a 5% figure used in defining the ‘buffer’ in the UDC housing supply will need to be subject of a ‘modification’ in the LP and a 20% multiple applied. FNPRG’s understanding of the Inspector’s comments is that some further increase in housing numbers across the District will be required to ensure the LP passes inspection.
Given the uncertainty and pressure from central government surrounding housing numbers nationally, the assessment of the FNPRG is that it is not in the least inconceivable that both the Water Tower and the Bloor Home sites could receive approval outside of the NP process.
Prior to the Planning Inspectorate’s comments about the LP (referred to above), the Parish Council wrote to the CEO of UDC challenging the methodology in the LP of the housing allocation across the parishes, which seems to condemn ‘Larger Parishes’ (of which Felsted is one so designated) of becoming ever larger. Again a response is awaited.
Formal withdrawal of Felsted / Rayne Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP)
Felsted Parish Council has been advised that TotalEnergies has written to the UK Planning Inspectorate formally withdrawing their proposed submission of a Development Consent Order (DCO) which is the official preparative application in the consenting regime for an NSIP.
As advised by Felsted Parish Council on February 27th, 2025, the INSIP was for a large solar farm development covering circa 650 acres that was being proposed to be located on land between Watch House Green and Rayne.
TotalEnergies advise that whilst they are withdrawing from the NSIP proposal they continue to plan to bring a cross-boundary planning application forward which will be submitted to Uttlesford District Council (UDC) (and Braintree District Council), but this will no longer be as an NSIP but it will be in the form of a conventional Planning Application.
This will give Felsted (and Uttlesford District Council) the opportunity to consider the proposal and respond on behalf of Felsted in the usual manner for a Planning Application.
A copy of the TotalEnergies letter (dated 15th August, 2025) can be read here.
Central Connect – Essex – Service Change September 2025
Following a review of their timetables, reliability and passenger demand Central Connect are making changes to a number of their Essex services from Monday 1st September 2025. These changes are designed to ensure the ongoing sustainability and reliability of their network and improve passenger journey options. A summary of the changes being made can be found below along with links to copies of their new timetables.
Service 331 – Braintree > Felsted > Helena Romanes School
Service 331 is introduced on school weekdays serving Helena Romanes School in Great Dunmow. Buses will depart Braintree Kings Park Village and run via Great Notley, Willows Green and Felsted (partly replacing Flagfinders 827 & 828 services).
Service 331 journeys will open to the public and may be used by any passenger presenting a valid pass or fare. Fares on Service 331 will mirror those on Service 333.
Click below for new Service 331 timetable
https://cdn.tmsops.co.uk/media/vboeastmidlands/331_Summary_TT_010925.pdf
Click below for the Service 331 (& 333) map
https://cdn.tmsops.co.uk/media/vboeastmidlands/331-333_Map_010925.pdf
Service 333 – Braintree > Felsted > Great Dunmow > Stansted Airport
Following a review of their launch timetable, minor changes to timetable are made to reflect traffic conditions along the route. This predominantly affects early morning and evening journeys.
In addition, on weekdays, one journey in each direction will divert in Great Dunmow and serve Helena Romanes School instead of Stortford Road. This to partly replace Flagfinders 827 & 828 school services (along with new route 331).
To provide additional capacity for school patronage and airport traffic, most journeys are upgraded to operate with double deck buses (overnight journeys may continue to operate with single decks).
Click below for new Service 333 timetable
https://cdn.tmsops.co.uk/media/vboeastmidlands/333_Summary_Timetable_010925.pdf
Supported Local Bus Services 2025 Consultation
Residents may wish to be aware of a consultation by Essex County Council on Supported Local Bus Services. The survey is open until 27 October 2025 and can be accessed here: https://consultations.essex.gov.uk/iptu/localbus2025
It is important to note that the majority of buses in Essex are operated commercially and these do not form part of this consultation.
Public Consultation on Essex Transport Strategy
Planning Application – Water Tower Site, Garnetts Lane (UTT/25/1929/OP)
The Uttlesford District Council Planning Portal shows that a Planning Application has just been made to UDC in respect of the Water Tower site in Garnetts Lane, Felsted (UTT/25/1929/OP).
This application refers to the site the subject to a public consultation held by the land-owner’s agents earlier this year.
As part of the continuing consultation process which commenced in March 2024, on 11th/12th July 2025 at the URC the Neighbourhood Plan Review Group sought parishioner’s further comments about these (and other) development proposals which are being considered for inclusion in the Review. To help assess the viability of proposals, various options, conditions and DRAFT policies have been discussed with agents for sites under consideration. However, no site allocations or policies have yet been formally adopted by the Review Group in a Reg 14 submission.
The Group does not anticipate progressing to the next stage (Reg 14) until it has assessed further evidence – particularly in relation to access – and a Strategic Environmental Assessment has been conducted and the outcome assessed. This is unlikely to be before late September 2025.
Meanwhile, this application will be considered in the prescribed manner by the Planning Committee of Felsted Parish Council. As previously stated at the Consultation Events, the result of the ‘vote’ and the comments received at the Events will be shared and will help to inform the Parish’s formal response to UDC about the application.
Parishioners who wish to make any personal representations or comment about this (or any) application are advised to do so directly to Uttlesford District Council as the Local Planning Authority. You have until 27th August to consider and submit your response; you may do so by following the link below:
The Review Group.
Mobile Community Supermarket
UCAN is the residents charity for Uttlesford, working to improve life for everyone who lives here. Their mobile community supermarket, in partnership with The Active Wellbeing Society and Uttlesford District Council was launched earlier this year selling basic essentials at cheap prices.
The Community Supermarket will now be located at Flitch Green, Hallett Road Car Park (instead of the previous location of Holy Cross Church).
They will be in this location on Tuesday 12th August between 9.30am and 11.30am, and then every other week.
Please note: A referral is NOT needed in order to access the support.
Felsted Focus Magazine
Download the latest issues of our community magazine.