£10 million solar farm planning application submitted to Dorset Council
The 30 hectare site would be near Winterborne Whitechurch
Plans for a 30-hectare solar farm and electric vehicle charging station on the outskirts of Winterborne Whitechurch have been submitted to Dorset Council.
The site is to the south of the main A354 road on Blandford Hill between two existing laybys.
The £10million planning application comes from Naturalis Energy Developments Ltd who have dubbed the site the “Blandford Hill Eco Hub.”
The company say that if the scheme is allowed they will create a new access via one of the laybys on the main road.
One of the buildings on the site has been designated for a café, toilets and shop for customers waiting for their vehicles to charge.
Public comments on the application are open until August 30th.
The site map shows the T-shaped area running parallel with the main road and stretching back to a track which runs from East Farm to Whitechurch Hill Barn.
Documents from the company say the solar farm would have a capacity of 15MWp, with the battery storage area at 3MW – offering rapid and ultrarapid charging for up to 19 vehicles.
It says: “The inclusion of an electric vehicle charging station is an innovative form of technology with only a few other comparable examples in the country and is in response to an identified regional ‘gap’ in charging infrastructure.”
How much power would it generate?
It aims to provide a covered area and walkway to cater for 6 ultra-rapid (up to 350kW) and 6 rapid (43-100kW) charging points. The site would also have a small café and shop and public toilets with around 30 spaces for general parking.
Power from the solar farm will be linked into the grid 1.75km south of the site at a substation in Winterborne Kingston.
Public feedback
An online local consultation earlier in the year attracted 42 people and of those who responded a third were classified as neutral to the project, 23 per cent either have concerns or are opposed with 44% supportive.
The main concern was the site itself with many people suggesting it should be nearer either Blandford or Dorchester on brownfield land, rather than in open countryside.
Although close to two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty the site lies within the South Blandford Downs, which has a lesser designation.
No public footpaths cross the fields although one path runs east-west along the southern boundary from East Farm. Natural England has designated the fields as Grade 3 ‘good to moderate’ land.
Up to 4 charging parking spaces may also be provided as part of the project within the yard at East Farm for private use by the landowners and for those visiting the East Farm shop and café, or staying at East Farm Campsite.
Dozens of documents have been submitted to Dorset Council with the application which can be viewed by searching the council website using the reference 2021/02622.
The company has its own website for the project – https://www.blandfordhillecohub.co.uk/
Three other solar farms are already operational in the area and connected to the National Grid. These include – North Farm Solar Farm 3.3km to the east of the site; Canada Farm Solar Farm 4km to the north of the site and The Down House Littleton Solar Farm south west of Blandford St Mary, 5.2km to the north east of the site.
A fourth solar farm site, South Farm Solar Farm, has received planning permission and will be 3.8km to the west of the site.