NEWS

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would have been approved would have been made the Secretary of State on behalf of the Government, but was subsequently withdrawn.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-1d16d9@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-5e03e1@sdeepsrefas

This is a reminder that the Felsted Neighbourhood Plan Review Consultation under the required “Regulation 14” formally commenced on Monday 9th February (for 7 weeks) and will run for a further two weeks, concluding on Monday 23rd March.

Any comments must be submitted by March 23rd in order to be considered by the Neighbourhood Plan Review Group.

Full details about the Neighbourhood Plan Review can be found here and the supporting documents can be found here.

Any comments can be submitted via the Parish Council email address: ku.vog.cp-detslefobfsctd-3bb079@krelc or by completing this website contact form.

Felsted Neighbourhood Plan Review 2025-2041 Regulation 14 Consultation can be read here.

The Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening Opinion for the Felsted Neighbourhood Plan Review can be read here.

The Felsted Neighbourhood Plan Review 2025-2041 can be read here.

The Strategic Environmental Assessment can be read here.

Information about the Neighbourhood Plan Review: https://felsted-pc.gov.uk/felsted-neighbourhood-plan/

We have created a webpage with some helpful information about Highways matters. Find out how to report highways defects, what to do in an emergency, and other useful contact details here: https://felsted-pc.gov.uk/highways/

Felsted Parish Council is very pleased to inform you that the new car park at the primary school will be in full use from today – Monday 23rd February, this will be an excellent amenity for the school.

The car park should also benefit the whole parish by easing congestion and preventing dangerous parking by the green and obstruction in Ravens Crescent. Double yellow lines might also discourage dangerous parking.

The school has said they will no longer allow pupil’s access from Braintree Road and only allow children to enter safely from the car park.

Despite the recent wet weather the building of the new Doctors Surgery is now really taking shape. Once again the surgery will be a great asset to Felsted.

The car park is owned by Felsted Community Trust as will be the surgery on completion.

The Felsted Neighbourhood Plan Review Consultation under the required “Regulation 14” will formally commence on Monday 9th February and will run for 7 weeks until Monday 23rd March.

A “drop in” session will take place from 9.30am – 1pm on Saturday 21st February at the URC Hall in Stebbing Road where members of the Felsted Neighbourhood Plan Review Group will be available to answer any queries.

Information about the Neighbourhood Plan Review can be found here: https://felsted-pc.gov.uk/felsted-neighbourhood-plan/   Read the supporting documents here: https://felsted-pc.gov.uk/felsted-neighbourhood…/updates/

Green Waste Collections will continue in 2026.

The collections will take place on Bannister Green from 8.30-9.30 am every SUNDAY morning between

1st March and 29th November 2026 (inclusive).

Please be aware that this service is funded by the Parish Council

As detailed in this advisory leaflet distributed with the Spring 2026 Felsted Focus magazine, the Felsted Neighbourhood Plan Review Consultation under the required “Regulation 14” will formally commence on Monday 9th February and will run for 7 weeks until Monday 23rd March.

Full details about the Neighbourhood Plan Review can be found here and the supporting documents can be found here.

Any comments can be submitted via the Parish Council email address: ku.vog.cp-detslefobfsctd-11ff03@krelc or by completing this website contact form.

A “drop in” session will take place from 9.30am – 1pm on Saturday 21st February at the URC Hall in Stebbing Road where members of the Felsted Neighbourhood Plan Review Group will be available to answer any queries.

Felsted Neighbourhood Plan Review 2025-2041 Regulation 14 Consultation can be read here.

The Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening Opinion for the Felsted Neighbourhood Plan Review can be read here.

The Felsted Neighbourhood Plan Review 2025-2041 can be read here.

The Strategic Environmental Assessment can be read here.

Information about the Neighbourhood Plan Review: https://felsted-pc.gov.uk/felsted-neighbourhood-plan/

The Parish Council have been made aware that a company has been sending out payment requests for renewal of “Business Directory” advertising. The emails say that they are from “Felsted Parish” and come from the email address ku.oc.hsirapobfsctd-6de305@troppus-ecivres. Please be aware that they are nothing to do with Felsted Parish Council or the Felsted Focus.

The company has concerning reviews on Trustpilot. The reviews can be read using the link: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/parish.uk

The emails also state that their bank details had changed. If you receive any requests for payment to new bank details from any source please always check directly by phone using a number from the organisations official website to ensure that it is not a scam.