New solar farm planned close to Essex village
It could be the size of 114 football pitches
A massive new solar farm the size of more than 114 football pitches has been proposed near an Essex village.
The farm would cover an area of approximately 114 hectares neighbouring Great Notley, according to a planning application submitted to Uttlesford District Council.
Clearstone Energy Ltd. also says in its application the farm, proposed for the most eastern part of the district, would see an power output of up to 49.9 megawatts.
According to a design and access statement by DLP Planning Ltd, panels will be built across 3,268 “tables”, and 543 half-tables, in rows between 4-9 metres apart.
A section reads: “Solar generation is efficient, effective and once installed, it has minimal maintenance needs.”
A later section reads: “The proposal will incorporate extensive landscaping measures to mitigate the visual impacts on the countryside as well to enhance biodiversity levels on the site.”
A different solar farm, called Drapers Solar Farm, is immediately to the west of the site, occupying about 15 hectares, and was given planning permission by Uttlesford council in 2013.
The site is also near Great Notley Country Park, but both this and the village itself lie just outside the Uttlesford District, in neighbouring Braintree.
The infrastructure of this new farm will be connected to Braintree substation, although the exact route is yet unknown.
According to the statement, the development would include a net gain in biodiversity of 60.03 per cent by creating new ecological corridors and planting new trees.
During the construction period, work would be restricted to between 7am and 6.30pm Monday to Fridays and Saturday 7am to 12.30pm.
The statement notes there are four listed buildings and an archaeological site near the land, but states none of these will be affected by the development.
There are also eight public footpaths which currently run through the site, which is currently used for agriculture.
Panels will be mounted to the ground on a concrete base and will be up to 3 metres tall, although the development will not need in-depth foundations.
Cabling would be at the surface or buried no deeper than achieved by normal ploughing practice, the statement continues.
In addition to the panels themselves, works will include a small control room, substation, battery storage units and security measures like fencing.
Last year a bid was launched for a solar farm across 13 fields near Battles Wood in Uttlesford, with the applicants claiming it could supply districts with clean energy for up to forty years.
The application has an expiry date of February 11 2022.