Plan for solar farm across 22 fields next to primary school
The applicant says it would have the potential to power the equivalent of 12,000 homes
Last updated 29th Jan 2024
Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy has applied to build a solar farm across 22 fields near a primary school in Cornwall.
The applicant, Speedwell Solar Farm Limited, says it would have the potential to power the equivalent of 12,000 homes.
A previous application for roughly the same site by a different solar farm company was refused by a Cornwall Council planning committee ten years ago. The plan was won on appeal but then quashed at the High Court.
The new plans for a ground-mounted solar farm on over 77 hectares of land at Lanyon Farm, Gwinear, with a car park and wildlife area for nearby Gwinear Community School, were submitted to Cornwall Council last week.
The development would sit about 300 metres south of the Hayle-Camborne railway line, near popular farm shop and restaurant Trevaskis Farm, Riviera Produce and Higher Trevaskis Caravan and Camping Park.
Speedwell Solar Farm Limited is owned by Statkraft, Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy and a global company in energy market operations. Statkraft operates in 21 countries developing, building and operating hydro, wind, solar, gas and biomass assets.
In a public presentation of the Gwinear plans, the company said: "Solar power is a crucial technology to overcome the energy security and climate challenges of this country. Cornwall has high solar radiance levels, making it a great location for a solar farm, and helping to meet the net zero targets set by the UK Government and Cornwall Council.
"The emerging proposals have the potential for an export capacity of up to 40MW of electricity, which is equivalent to the needs of around 12,000 homes. The site is 195 acres but less than half (94 acres) will be taken up by solar panels.
"The solar panels will be anchored into the ground and will be a maximum height of 2.7 metres. The framework supporting them will be made of aluminium or steel. They will be connected to each other and the substation via underground cables."
The company says the project will deliver a Community Benefit Fund of £8,000 each of the 40 years it is operating. This could be used for local projects and initiatives that support the transition to renewable energy and help to reduce fuel poverty.
Following community engagement events, the applicant has included a car park specifically for the use of the Gwinear Community Primary School, including 50 spaces, and around a hectare of land for use as a “wildlife area” to provide an educational and recreational resource for the primary school, to include food growing and play elements.
An agricultural land classification report states that the site comprises 48.5% subgrade 3a (good quality) agricultural land, with the remaining portion made up of subgrade 3b (moderate quality) and non-agricultural land (30.5% and 21% respectively).
A previous application was made by Good Energy Limited in 2013 for a 12.8MW solar photovoltaic farm on a different footprint to the site that is the subject of this application.
That application went to planning committee with officer level recommendation for approval, but was refused, with the reason given that, "the proposed development was considered to be unacceptable as the majority of the site affects Grade 3A agricultural land which was considered to be the best and most versatile".
The decision was appealed by the applicant and the inspector allowed the appeal. A High Court challenge was then made against the appeal decision. The appeal decision was quashed by order of the High Court in April 2015 and was remitted to the Secretary of State for re-determination. The plans were eventually dropped.
The construction of the proposed development is anticipated to take six to nine months if approved.