147-acre solar farm near Alderminster set for green light
CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a large solar farm near Alderminster that would power more than 14,000 homes looks set to be given permission.
Regener8 Power Limited’s proposals to establish a 147-acre solar farm on agricultural land between Ilmington, Crimscote and Wimpstone will be discussed at Stratford District Council’s planning committee next Wednesday (23rd November).
But while the scheme, which Regener8 Power Limited says will meet the needs of around 14,100 homes every year and will save 10,595 tonnes of CO2 annually, has drawn widespread criticism, it has been recommended for approval by a planning officer.
In a report prepared for the planning committee, the officer said that the proposal was a “sustainable development” and would bring the following benefits:
- The significant increase in the generation of a clean source of renewable energy.
- Would contribute to the Council’s commitment to contribute to national carbon neutral targets as set out in the Climate Change Declaration.
- A source of income to the landowner’s business helping farm diversification over the lifetime of the development.
- The possibility of short-term local employment associated with construction of the panels, landscaping, and long-term employment associated with maintenance of the equipment.
- Biodiversity enhancements through new habitat formation and new soft landscaping.
However, residents are adamant that the solar farm would blight the countryside and not necessarily bring the green dividends promised.
Richard Gotch, who has lived in Crimscote for over a decade and is co-ordinator of the opposition group, told the Herald at the time of the application being submitted last year: “We are all totally in favour of green energy and solar is an important part of the mix.
“But that shouldn’t be an excuse to industrialise our countryside or to turn a blind eye to the huge CO2 footprint caused by importing food.
“Other countries have shown that there are many places to site solar power generation that are less damaging to the planet.”
In total there were 78 letters opposing the scheme and among those to voice their concerns was the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CRPE). It points out that the proposed site is on good agricultural land and that it is close to another solar farm at Radbrook Pastures. But CPRE’s primary concern is that it would be an eyesore and contrary to the Local Plan, which says that the landscape character should not be impacted upon by developments.
CPRE said: “The development would be widely visible, not least from Meon Hill, a very obvious discrepancy in the middle of open fields… If this application was allowed, so surely others would follow in its wake until the landscape was disfigured.”
Ward member Cllr Edward Fitter said: “This is the wrong location and would involve the loss of high-quality agricultural land.
“Another reason for objection is my concern for highways. The roads are in no way suitable to HGVs. The local area has been experiencing a disruptive increase in HGVs and it is obvious the roads are not big enough for these vehicles to be using them.”
Whitchurch, Tredington and Ilmington parish councils also sent in letters opposing the scheme. A total of 35 letters of support were received by the district council. They highlighted the need for more renewable energy to minimise the effect of greenhouse gases, the income from the development would benefit local communities and that the development would have a low visual impact.
Supporters of the scheme also said the solar farm would not have an adverse impact on food production and would result in a considerable bio-diversity gain.
Should the farm gain planning permission it would be able to operate for a 40 year period before being dismantled and the land restored to its pre-development state.
