Residents push back against proposed St. Martin solar farm

St Martin Residents Voice Fears Over Belle Fontaine Solar Farm Proposal

Plans for a large solar farm at Belle Fontaine, St Martin, have sparked opposition from residents who fear the project could disturb the parish’s peaceful countryside and harm local wildlife.

The proposed 5.2-megawatt development would span roughly eight hectares of Crown land and form part of Jersey Electricity’s (JE) Solar 5000 initiative, which aims to produce 25 megawatts of solar energy locally by 2027. JE says the Belle Fontaine site could supply over 40% of St Martin’s homes and serve as a “centre of excellence” for agrivoltaics — where solar panels are combined with farming activity.

However, locals argue the project could change the area’s rural character and threaten agricultural land traditionally used for growing crops. Many point out that Belle Fontaine’s heavy clay soil is more productive for farming than for housing solar infrastructure.

“This is an area of great beauty — hundreds of people walk these green lanes every week,” said local resident Monique Lawrence, who lives next to the proposed site. “We don’t want our nine-by-five island to end up covered in solar panels.”

Others, like Adrien Merhet, have questioned why rooftops are not being prioritised instead of farmland protected for agricultural and heritage use.

“If panels were installed on roofs, the people living there could directly benefit,” he said. “By using fields, Jersey Electricity gains the advantage while land that could support new farmers is lost.”

Some islanders have also raised environmental concerns. Wildlife groups fear birds from nearby Queen’s Valley Reservoir could mistake the reflective panels for water, while others warn the installation could worsen drainage and flooding in the surrounding valley.

JE representatives insist that the project has been designed with the local landscape in mind. Steve Tanner, speaking on behalf of the company, said the solar array would be screened by existing hedgerows, remain compatible with agriculture, and include biodiversity enhancements.

“We’ve been listening to residents’ feedback and are looking at ways to reduce the visual impact, including adjustments to panel height and additional screening,” Tanner said.

The company emphasised that the installation would be temporary and fully reversible after 40 years.

The scheme has backing from the Crown Estate and Harper Adams University, with Receiver General Alan Blair noting that it reflects “His Majesty King Charles’s long-held commitment to sustainable farming and renewable energy.”

Public consultations are ongoing, and a formal planning application is expected later this year. If approved, construction could begin in 2026, with the solar farm operational by spring 2027.