A proposal has been made to build a solar farm on land between Thurstaston Village and the Wirral Way, north of Station Road Thurstaston. See map. No formal planning application has been made, but a `Scoping request’ was put to Wirral Borough Council, to which we and others submitted representations: (SCO/25/01850). The proposers are the landowner and Clint Energy (a Chinese firm). Wirral Borough Council have insisted that a full Environmental Impact Assessment should be done, and issued a Scoping Report listing all the matters this must address. This can be found on the council website at

https://online.wirral.gov.uk/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=231954

Wirral Wildlife realise the gravity of the climate crisis, and its close links to the biodiversity crisis. A rapidly changing climate threatens all life on earth including people. Solar panels have an important place in reducing the carbon costs of electricity. However, there are many other places where solar panels can be put. Port of Liverpool have recently put large numbers onto warehouse roofs. There are plenty of large roofs, especially in east Wirral, that could be fitted with solar panels. These would be closer to strong energy networks and higher local usage.

​

Wirral Wildlife expects to oppose this proposal if a planning application is made, because:

1. The land is Functionally Linked to the Dee Estuary Special Protection Area for Birds. Functionally linked land is an area which is essential to the functioning of a Special Projection Area for birds (SPA), in this case the Dee Estuary. The land in question has been part of the Wetland Birds Survey (WeBS) system for some years and is regularly examined from the adjacent road by birdwatchers. Pink-footed geese particularly use it to roost at high tide, also some other wading birds and wildfowl. In summer skylark breed there. None of this bird activity would be compatible with solar panels, so considerable displacement of wildlife would occur.

2. There are a number of ponds on and around the proposed site, some of which support the legally-protected Great Crested Newt. The newts would be vulnerable during construction. Whether they would be affected during use would depend on how the land under the panels was managed. 

3. Security fencing round the site could disrupt animal movement, such as hedgehogs, badgers.

4. Possible loss of hedges, bat foraging areas, brown hare habitat and impacts on other wildlife.

5. Information is currently lacking on how the electricity produced would be fed into the national grid, and whether this would require disruptive works outside the proposal area. The local Grid may not be strong enough to cope with maximum output. The proposers need to provide agreement from Scottish Power Energy Networks that the local cables can cope.

6. Loss of Best and Most Versatile (BMV) farmland for 40 years. Of the proposed site, 5.1ha (18%) is grade 3a, counted as BMV for planning purposes, the rest is grade 3b. What guarantee can there be that the land will be returned to agriculture in 40 years time? How significant is the loss of food production over that time, as the world food situation becomes more insecure?

​

There would of course be impacts on heritage and landscape. Other organisations are better qualified to comment on these, so we refer people to the Wirral Society, and to Irby, Thurstaston and Pensby Amenity Society.

Please keep up observations on wildlife using the land from public rights of way. If from Station Road or the Wirral Way you see any wildlife on these fields, please let us know. We wait to see if and when a planning application is made.

​

Wirral Wildlife committee
Date: 12th February 2026

 

 

References:

Identification of Functionally Linked Land supporting Special Protection Areas (SPAs) waterbirds in the North West of England. October 2021. Natural England Commissioned Report NECR361