An off-grid homeowner in Nottinghamshire is opposing plans for a major solar farm development next door - despite relying on solar panels to power his own home.
Richard Gill has submitted objections to the proposed Great North Road Solar Park, which would be built north-west of Newark, whose local MP Robert Jenrick has labelled the park an "unreasonable proposal".
The project would see 1.5 million panels spread across 7,000 acres, with the potential to power up to 400,000 homes - enough electricity for every household in Nottinghamshire.
Gill's 18th century farmhouse is one of nine properties identified as being most severely impacted by the development, which also includes plans for 46km of new hedgerows.
MAPPED: The scale of the Great North Road Solar Park, which Gill has deemed 'excessive'
GNR SOLAR PARK
The development also features 19 new public pathways through private land and approximately 800 acres dedicated to "wildlife enhancement".
Gill, who has his own ground-mounted solar array and wind turbine, denies being a "Nimby" (Not in my back yard) - but objects to the scale of multiple projects in one area.
"In a scheme of this size I think it's a reasonable accommodation to make, particularly when there's so few houses that are as severely impacted as ours," he told the BBC.
The homeowner added: "For about a kilometre to our west, all the fields are going to be covered in panels as well, which I think is just a bit excessive.
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'For about a kilometre to our west, all the fields are going to be covered in panels,' Gill warned (file photo)
PA
"The Great North Road solar scheme is equivalent to 10 times the size in panelled area alone of Heathrow Runway Three.
"How much should one community be expected to take?"
Developer Elements Green has responded to local concerns by adjusting their plans, including moving panels 100 metres further from Gill's property.
"We take great pride in the work that we do, in working with the local communities to try to design the project in such a way that it has the least impact," said Elements Green's executive chairman Mark Turner.
Robert Jenrick wrote to the council last year to warn of the park's 'serious detrimental effects'
PAThe company will work with several environmental organisations, including the Sherwood Forest Trust, RSPB, and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
But the project requires approval from the Planning Inspectorate as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure project.
And it has been met with criticism in the past - early last year, Jenrick wrote to the local council warning the "scale of the project is far too large and would have serious detrimental effects on the landscape and agricultural land, among other concerns".
Elements Green plans to submit their application to the National Planning Inspectorate later this year - though the final decision will rest with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.
