Massive solar farm approved for New Forest
It's hoped the project can provide enough power for thousands of homes every year
Plans for an £8.5million solar farm capable of providing enough electricity for up to 5,000 homes a year have been given the green light.
The proposal for land near Walkford Farm in the New Forest overcame resident and parish council objections to receive unanimous support from the district council’s planning committee.
The solar panels will be in place for 40 years before the land, which is on the border of Bransgore and New Milton, is returned to agricultural use.
Councillors granted the application from Boultbee Brooks (Renewables Walkford Moor) Ltd at a meeting on Wednesday, August 14.
The proposal faced opposition from Bransgore Parish Council as well as BCP Council member Andy Martin, who represents the Highcliffe and Walkford ward.
Alongside the panels, which would have capacity for 15 megawatts of power a year, the scheme involves four power stations and a sub-station.
The planning case officer said an area in the middle of the panels had been left vacant as it was where archaeological finds had taken place.
In recommending approval, the officer said: “The proposal would provide renewable energy for up to 5,000 homes annually.
“It would be sited so as to minimise its impact on the higher quality agricultural land whilst maintaining a low-intensity agricultural use.
“Together with the landscaping mitigation, the proposal would offer a significant uplift in bio-diversity across the site.”
Development manager for the project Nick Barber told the committee the clean energy from the solar farm will result in a reduction in carbon emissions equivalent to taking around 2,140 petrol cars off the road for 40 years.
On the biodiversity benefits, he said the scheme will create 64 acres of “species-rich” pasture, 1,226 metres of new native hedgerows and long-term protection of skylark habitat.
“This will lead to a 232 per cent biodiversity net gain for habitats and a 254 per cent net gain in hedgerow units across the site secured by the planning permission,” Mr Barber said.
“Economically, the scheme will allow £8.5million of private sector investment, create approximately 70 temporary jobs and five permanent jobs.
“It will also create around £2.3million in business rates over its lifetime.”
Mr Barber said the project team met with New Milton Town Council and Bransgore Parish Council and held an in-person community consultation event,
He said changes were made to address concerns raised, including removing a large area of panels from the west and north of the site to mitigate views from the public footpath and woodland burial ground.
Bransgore Parish Council maintained an objection to the application on the basis it would have a “negative long-term impacts on the landscape character and its ability to be returned to useable agricultural land in the future”.
Cllr Martin said: “This application will be harmful to the rural landscape character and will be visually intrusive for years.
“I believe it is contrary to NFDC (New Forest District Council) policy and constitutes over-development of the site.”
During the six-month construction phase, access will be provided by the north of Walkford Farm via Stem Lane in New Milton.
Cllr Martin said he was concerned about the lack of detail on the scale of vehicle movements for ongoing maintenance, which would involve access via residential roads in Walkford.
He added: “The presence of significant archaeological and human remains is in my view a major factor and there is concern over the robustness of the proposed monument management plan and the ability of the council to monitor and enforce it.
“I believe the planning balance is wrong and this is not a suitable site for such a large and intrusive development. I also have concerns over nature conservation and biodiversity on this site.”
Dibden and Hythe Liberal Democrat councillor Malcolm Wade proposed the approval of the application.
Committee member Cllr Wade said: “We have to accept the reality that to deal with climate change green energy is the future and we need to say and recognise that schemes such as this, and others, windmills, all the rest of it, it gives us the clean energy we need for the survival of the species and that is protecting the environment not just for our children, our children’s children but future generations.
“Solar farms are clearly an excellent way of providing non-carbon energy.”