The municipality of Cranendonck has agreed to the arrival of a mega solar park. The developer Sunvest can therefore start with the construction of 49 hectares of solar panels. Only the party Cranendonck Actief voted against on Tuesday evening, which thinks it is ‘a real shame’.
The planned solar park takes up almost a third of the agricultural land between Budel and Maarheeze. The total area is more than a hundred football fields. Although the solar park will receive a temporary permit for twenty-five years, the question is what will happen to the land after a quarter of a century and what can still happen.
Cranendonck benefits from proceeds
Nevertheless, a large majority of the municipal council sees merit in it. “We would rather have one large solar park than ten small ones,” says ELAN, the largest party in the city council. An opinion that is also shared by other parties. The fact that Cranendonck also benefits from part of the revenue from the park plays a major role in this.
The CDA seemed to have the most difficulty with ‘their’ vote in favour. The fact that the solar panels will be placed on agricultural land does hurt a bit. “As a municipality, we have decided that we do not necessarily want windmills. Then this is the best alternative.”
Park-like appearance
The 76 hectares of land for the Aardbrandsven solar park will be purchased from four owners. Solar panels will be installed on 49 hectares, the remaining land will be used to keep the solar park attractive for local residents. There will be nature and hiking trails, which should give the whole a park-like appearance.
ZLTO strongly opposes the arrival of the park. According to the agricultural organisation, this is excellent agricultural land and no solar panels are allowed on it at all. “In recent years, grass and maize have been grown on these grounds, but also demanding crops such as ware potatoes, gladiolus, onions, sugar beet, salsify and asparagus. This shows that it is good, fertile and productive agricultural land,” says Mark van Kuijk of the ZLTO .
No solar panels on farmland
In Brabant it has been agreed that solar parks cannot simply be built on productive agricultural land. According to the municipality, the agricultural land is not at all as good as the ZLTO would have you believe. Sunvest can therefore start with the construction. That will take four years.
ZLTO wants the province to intervene. If that doesn’t happen, the farmers’ interest group will go to court.
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