Plans for a solar farm on the outskirts of Yarmouth — which could generate enough energy to power nearly 10,000 homes — have been submitted.
Following consultation in the summer, Low Carbon UK has put forward plans for the Barnfield Solar Farm on Wilmingham Lane, near Thorley.
Currently used for agricultural purposes
The 39-hectare site is next door to the Wilmingham Solar Farm and is currently used for agricultural purposes.
Throughout its projected 40-year life as a solar farm, the land would also be used for sheep grazing, grassland or meadow planting.
The plan is for the solar farm to be decommissioned at the end of its life.
Enough electricity to power 9,968 homes
Through cabling buried into the ground, the electricity generated would be exported to the local distribution network at the Shalfleet Substation on Warlands Lane.
It is thought the site could generate approximately 30 megawatts a year, enough to power 9,968 homes.
Along with solar panels, CCTV cameras, perimeter fences, inverters and transformers would be installed at the solar farm.
Sought to minimise environmental impact
Acting on behalf of Low Carbon, planning agents AECOM say the proposals are considered the minimum level of development required to ensure the site performs effectively.
The agents say the application has sought to minimise environmental impact by preserving trees and hedgerows, as well as planting more to cut down glint and glare.
Low Carbon would install boxes for bats, birds and dormouse; log piles and bee hives.
If it is approved, the solar farm could be built in 18 weeks.
View the plans
You can view the plans, 22/01793/FUL, on the IW Council’s planning register.
The public consultation runs until 25th January.
Supportive comments
Eleven comments have been submitted to the council supporting the application, including from the National Trust.
The trust acknowledges the proposal could have some visual impact, but it is outweighed by the mitigation put forward by Low Carbon and the restoration of the site at the end of its lifespan.
Two objections
Island Roads and one other object, however, with the highways authority saying one of the proposed access points, which would only be used during construction, has sub-standard visibility.
A nearby resident said the land is used to grow vital crops and should be left as the hum generated from the site, added to that from other nearby solar farms, would make it intolerable for them to continue to live in their house.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
Image: zbynek burival under CC BY 2.0
