Charlotte Cane - the newly elected MP for Ely and East Cambridgeshire - has slammed what she has described as the "rushed approval" for the Sunnica Solar Farm.

Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, granted permission for the Sunnica Solar farm on the Cambridgeshire/Suffolk border yesterday (Friday).

The proposed 2,500-acre scheme consists of a solar and battery plant.  

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

Ms Cane said: “This vast Solar Farm marches through large swathes of my constituency. The examiner spent years carefully considering all the issues and all the representations.

"Every local authority affected spent years considering the application and its implications and all called for it to be rejected.

"With just one week’s consideration, the Secretary of State has decided that he knows better and has given permission.

“Green energy is vital and solar farms are key to meeting our net zero targets. But that must not mean that every solar farm application should get permission regardless of its impact on our food security, biodiversity, landscape character and our existing farming and horse racing businesses.  

“I am shocked that the Secretary of State has overridden all advice to the contrary and given this scheme permission. I have contacted 'Say No to Sunnica' to discuss further.”

The decision on whether the Sunnica Energy Farm would be built across 2,500-acres of farmland had been delayed for a fourth time in June until after the Election.