A Guernsey man who initially objected to a proposed solar panel installation in St Sampson says he now fully backs the scheme after sitting down with the applicant to review its details. Len Shephard wants to install 72 ground-mounted panels on land behind his house, which he says could generate enough electricity to power several neighbouring households. Planning officials have not yet reached a decision on the application.
Shephard said the scheme could supply power equivalent to five Guernsey households and save 505 trees a year. A site assessment has been carried out, according to the States' planning website, though no decision has yet been issued.
What exactly is being proposed?
The plan involves fitting 72 solar panels on a plot situated behind Shephard's home in St Sampson. Shephard said the structures would be raised off the ground rather than fixed directly to the soil, and Chadwick confirmed this design choice, noting that grass and wildlife beneath the panels would still receive sunlight.
Shephard also stressed that the installation would not be permanent in a destructive sense.
fully demountable
someone can just take it apart and you'd never know it was there
Why did the plan initially draw criticism?
Chris Chadwick lodged a complaint against the proposal because the site is classified as greenfield land, a designation that typically raises concerns about development encroaching on undeveloped countryside. Chadwick said his objection stemmed largely from a lack of accessible information rather than opposition to solar energy itself.
It just said 72 panels and my initial reaction was that's going to cover all of the area.
I saw the planning application right at the end of its period of notification so, by the time I looked at the website, the data wasn't there.
Shephard explained that the land's greenfield status was essentially a technicality rather than a reflection of its actual usability. He said the site had previously been used for greenhouse cultivation but had been left unproductive for decades because of buried materials beneath the field.
used for greenhousing
45 years doing nothing
He argued that the classification left him with limited options.
It's designated as greenfield because there's no choice for the planning. It's either horticulture or agriculture.
So we're kind of stuck with that... you're not going to be able to do any farming on it.
Shephard suggested that proposals affecting greenfield sites should be assessed individually rather than under a blanket rule, given that not all such land remains viable for farming.
Our earlier coverage detailed the initial objections to the scheme, noting that opponents highlighted the 72 ground-mounted panels' placement on land officially designated as greenfield, while Shephard maintained the land was no longer suitable for agricultural use. in our original report on the St Sampson solar panel objections.
How was the objector won over?
Chadwick said his position shifted entirely once Shephard walked him through the specifics of the plan that were not readily available online.
He was good enough to just say: 'Well, it's nothing like I thought in the first place.'
Shephard said sharing the material directly made the difference.
The information is available to a degree on the planning website but there was no substitute for sitting down like this.
Chadwick said the applicant had clearly given considerable care to the project's design.
has put a lot of thought into making this work as best as possible.
He added that Shephard had addressed every concern he raised.
complete supporter of the of the plan
considered all of the things that I asked questions about
Chadwick also pointed out that the motivation behind the project appeared to be environmental rather than financial.
He probably won't see financial return from it his lifetime, so it's not a commercial decision: it's an altruistic decision to actually do the right thing.
What has newer reporting added?
According to a later national broadcaster's follow-up report, the 72 ground-mounted panels are being proposed on agricultural land and could generate enough electricity to supply Shephard's own home along with up to seven additional properties, a slightly higher figure than the five households originally cited. The same report reiterated that the land previously hosted greenhouses which were later removed and buried, leaving remnants that Shephard says make the plot unfit for farming.
What happens next?
As of the most recent update from the broadcaster's coverage, there is still no scheduled date for a planning decision on the application. A site assessment has already taken place, but Guernsey's planning authority has yet to indicate when a final ruling will be made.
Key Facts
- Len Shephard has proposed 72 ground-mounted solar panels behind his home in St Sampson, Guernsey.
- Shephard says the scheme could power five households and save 505 trees annually; a later report puts the figure at up to eight properties including his own.
- Objector Chris Chadwick withdrew his complaint after a face-to-face meeting with Shephard and now fully supports the plan.
- The site is classified as greenfield but has been unused for roughly 45 years due to buried former greenhouse materials.
- No date has yet been set for a formal planning decision.
