The decision on whether one of Europe’s biggest solar farms will be built across 2,500-acres of farmland has been delayed until after the general election. 

This is the fourth time proposals for the Sunnica Energy Farm – a scheme that would span 16 towns and parishes across the East Cambridgeshire and West Suffolk border – have been pushed back.   

Its significant size means the development is reviewed under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project process and the final decision is made by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.   

The position is currently held by Claire Coutinho. It is not known if she will remain in the role after the general election on Thursday (July 4). 

A statement on the Planning Inspectorate website explains it is “customary for ministers to observe discretion” during the pre-election period and “no development consent decisions will take place”.  

An update will be issued after the election.  

The scheme consists of a solar and battery plant that campaigners fighting the proposals say stretches around 15 miles end-to-end. 

It is set to be located across three sites: Sunnica East Site A, near Isleham; Sunnica East Site B, near Freckenham and Worlington; and Sunnica West Site A, near Chippenham and Kennett.      

The Say No to Sunnica campaign group feels the scheme is “severely flawed” and the “extremely poor quality” of the proposal has led to it being widely opposed from the start. 

Chair Dr Catherine Judkins said: “This dreadful scheme, with all its deceptions, has been hanging over communities for well over five years now.  

“Its negative impacts, if it were to be approved, would last for generations.” 

Among their concerns is that the scheme will use some of the UK’s best high-yielding farmland - whereas Sunnica argues the land is poor quality. 

Sunnica says the UK needs to double the amount of renewable energy it generates by 2050 and the development would “make a significant contribution to this goal”.