Another vast solar panel farm is being planned on Nottinghamshire farmland. Three large sections of land off Wysall Road near Rempstone could be used to set up a solar farm, according to preliminary planning documents submitted to Rushcliffe Borough Council.
Applicant European Energy has asked the council for a screening opinion on its plans to turn 70 hectares of arable fields between Costock, Rempstone, Wymeswold and Wysall, into a 49.9 MW solar farm - which would be capable of powering thousands of homes. The site, which would be accessed from Wysall Road, would consist of solar panels, frames and cabling, access tracks and support buildings like transformer Stations, as well as security fencing and CCTV cameras.
It was also explained in planning documents that new hedgerows and woodland planting was part of the proposals, along with the creation of species rich grassland and pasture and the management of existing hedgerows. The proposed development would be for limited period of 40 years, after which it would be decommissioned and restored back to full agricultural use.
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The construction period for the solar farm is expected to last nine months and would include underground cables to connect the site to the electricity network. The application addressed the potential visual impact of the facility, which would be bordered to the north and east by a similar array which has already been approved.
"Given the limited number of views from which both sites would be visible and the separation between them, cumulative landscape and visual effects are considered unlikely," an applicant planning document stated. It added the sheep would still be able to graze the land.
In a planning document, planning agent Axis on behalf of applicant European Energy, said: "The Proposed Development would facilitate the generation of renewable energy, and this would conserve natural resources that would otherwise be used to generate power.
"Whilst the solar panels, frames and ancillary equipment would use natural resources during construction this would not be in significant quantities that could have wider significant environmental impacts." The application is pending consideration by Rushcliffe Borough Council.
